Effects of the antibiotics penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline on the karyology of Oedogonium gunnii Wittr. (Chlorophyceae).

Effects of penicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline were seen on the karyology of a filamentous green alga, Oedogonium gunnii Wittr. Various nuclear and chromosomal aberrations such as, fragmentation of the chromosomes, extreme clumping and unequal groupings of the chromosomes, vacuolization of nuclei and nucleoli, and irregular anaphase chromatid breaks, were observed in the materials treated with 500 and 750 micrograms/ml streptomycin, and 250 and 500 micrograms/ml tetracycline, and which, however, were not seen with any of the concentrations of penicillin employed. With lower concentrations of the three antibiotics given continuously for longer duration, several aberrations were observed. The frequency of the aberrations did not seem to follow a regular pattern and varied with each antibiotic and the duration of treatment.