Impact of Mixed Wastewater on Cytogenetics, Biochemical and Agronomic Characteristics of Vicia faba

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of polluted water from Kitchener pool, Nile Delta, Egypt on growth parameters, agronomic characters, cytogenetics, and expression of α, β- esterase and peroxidase enzymes in Vicia faba. Three concentrations of mixed water were used in this study (25%, 50%, 100% and tap water as control). The results revealed a significant reduction in most growth parameters such as root, shoot length and fresh and dry weight. Cytogenetically, cytomixis and meiotic disorder in pollen mother cells were observed at various stages of meiosis and more frequent in meiosis I compared with meiosis II. Cytomixis in the present study observed in forms of cytoplasmic channels (CC) and direct fusion (DF) types of connection. Percentage of both parameters were increase as the concentration increase. Phenomenon of cytomixis was presented in types of cytoplasmic connections and direct fusion. The percentage of pollen fertility decrease as the concentration increase. Productivity in forms of number of pods/plant and number of seeds/pod of treated plants were highly affected and decrease as the concentrations increase. A variation in the expression of studied isozymes as a response to stress occurred by wastewater were clearly observed. Accordingly, using of wastewater for agricultural purposes is highly hazardous and must be under control for more environmental safety.