IRRADIATION EFFECTS OF ACRIFLAVINE ON UV INACTIVATION OF RHIZOBIUM-PHASEOLI

The application of acriflavine, a basic dye, in sublethal doses (1 or 5 mu g/ml for 5 min) as pre-, during- and post-irradiation treatments revealed UV dose modifications in Rhizobium phaseoli strain Raj 16. Treatments pre- and during-irradiation significantly protected the cells from UV damage, possibly by intercalating the dye molecules between the base pair sequences. Post-irradiation treatments produced additional lethality, presumably by inhibiting the excision repair process. No increased lethality occurred with post-treatment of acriflavine.