Cytogenotoxicity of fifth-generation quaternary ammonium using three plant bioindicators.

The investigation aimed to determine the cytogenotoxic effect of fifth-generation quaternary ammonium using three plant species as bioindicators. Bulbs of A. cepa and seeds of L. culinaris and P. sativum were exposed to different concentrations of fifth-generation quaternary ammonium and a control solution of distilled water for 72 h. The results showed that the A. cepa bioindicator presented the greatest reduction in root length at 50 mg L and no mitotic index at 40 and 50 mg L, reaching 100% mitotic inhibition. Cell abnormalities were present among the three bioindicator species, where the highest index of micronuclei occurred at 50 mg L, being A. cepa the bioindicator with the highest relative rate of abnormality (25.28%). It was concluded that fifth-generation quaternary ammonium, in all treatments, caused a cytogenotoxic effect on the apical meristematic cells of the three species, A. cepa was the most sensitive species.