Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: We studied the mutation effects of sodium sulfite and sodium nitrite in root tip cells of Vicia faba. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The root tips of Vicia faba were treated with different concentrations of sodium sulfite and sodium nitrite (in the concentrations of 25;50;100;200;400 mg/L) with distilled water as control for four hours.The root tips of Vicia faba were stained with carbol fuchsin and examined. The micronucleus rate and the rate of chromosome aberration were determined within root tip cells of Vicia faba. RESULTS: Different concentrations of sodium sulfite and sodium nitrite increased the micronucleus rate and the rate of chromosome aberration in root tip cells of Vicia faba. Both these rates increased with treatment concentration.The micronucleus rate of sodium nitrite was higher than that of sodium sulfite at the some concentration. Sodium sulfite and sodium nitrite induced chromosome to produce various types of chromosomal aberrations: free chromosome;chromosome fragments;chromosome adhesion;lagging chromosome;chromosome bridge;polarized chromosome and ring chromosome. CONCLUSION: Sodium sulfite and sodium nitrite revealed obvious mutation effects and caused certain genetic toxicity in root tip cells of Vicia faba. The effects of sodium nitrite were stronger than that of sodium nitritet.

Key words: sodium sulfite, sodium nitrite, root tip cells of Vicia faba, micronucleus rate, the rate of chromosome aberration