Influence of N,N bis(3-aminopropylo)dodecyloamine of the Ultrastructure of Nuclei in Aspergillus niger Mycelium and on Cell Proliferation and Mitotic Disturbances in Allium cepa L. Root Meristem

Barbara Gabara1*, Joanna Kalwinek1, Anna Koziróg2, Zofia Żakowska2, 
and Bogumił Brycki3

1Department of Plant Cytology and Cytochemistry, 
University of Łódź, ul. Banacha12/16, 90-227 Łódź, Poland
 2Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Technical University,
 ul. Wólczańska 171/173, 90-530 Łódź, Poland
 3Department of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 
ul. Grunwaldzka 6, 60-780 Poznań, Poland

*e-mail: bargab@ biol.uni.lodz.pl

Received July 25, 2005; revision accepted January 25, 2006

Hyphae growing for 1 h in the presence of 0.05% and 0.1% N,N-bis(3-aminopropylo)dodecyloamine (APDA) showed malformations in the nuclear structure, including changes in shape, budding, progressive disappearance of the nucleolus and chromatin, and damage to the nuclear envelope. The Allium test revealed that at both concentrations used (0.005%, 0.01%) the tested substance lowered the frequency of dividing cells and induced mitotic abnormalities such as c-metaphases, anaphase-telophase bridges, lagging chromosomes, micronuclei, binucleate cells, budding nuclei and partial extrusion of the nucleolus from the nucleus. These data indicate that APDA has cytotoxic, mitodepressive and turbogenic effects, especially at the higher dose. The results showed that APDA may be safely used as a microbicidal agent to destroy microorganisms developing on experimental material.

Key words: Aspergillus niger, Allium cepa, nuclear ultrastructure, mycelium, root meristem, mitotic index, disturbances in mitosis, N,N-bis(3-aminopropylo)dodecyloamine.