Studying the Hetrotoxicity Potential of the Phenolic Composition Obtained from the Methanolic Extract of Echinochola crus-galli Weed on Germination Traits and Cytogenetic Behavior of Rice

Introduction: Without a doubt, plant hetrotoxicity is one of the important factors in determining the distribution and abundance of some species in plant communities. Thus, the purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of phenolic composition obtained from the methanol extract of Echinochola crus-galli on germination traits and cytogenetic behavior of rice. Materials and methods: This experiment was done to assess hetrotoxic potential of various concentrations (0, 0.024, 0.048, 0.076 and 0.1 mM) of the phenolic composition obtained from the methanol extract of whole-organ of E . crus-galli on germination traits of rice as well as mitosis division of meristematic cells of radicle in a completely randomized design. To extract thephenolic composition, warm extraction method using a methanol solvent was used. For studying mitosis division, first rice seeds were germinated. Then, each of the steps such as fixation, hydrolysis, staining, squashing and microscopic studies were done on the end of the radicle. Mitosis indices and percentage of mitosis inhibition were calculated and also percentage of each of chromosomal abnormalities at four stages of prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase as compared to total cells was calculated. Results: The lowest percentage and rate of germination and relative germination were found in two concentrations of the 0.076 and 0.1 mM of phenolic composition of E . crus-galli , so that no germination was observed in these treatments. In this study, mitosis division was normal in control samples, so that the rice plant included 12 chromosomes in the metaphase stage. Also the chromosomes were normal in the telophase stage and chromosomal abnormalities were not observed in meristem cells of radicle tip of the control. The lowest value of mitosis indices and the number of dividing cells were related to the concentration of 0.048 mM wuth 30.19 and 385 cells, respectively. In the present study, chromosomal abnormalities in the stages of metaphase, anaphase and telophase were increased with increasing concentration of phenolic composition, and were 28.85 and 16.95% in 0.048 mM concentration of phenolic composition, respectively. The most chromosomal abnormalities were of sticky and laggard type, which were related to the concentration of 0.048 mM of phenolic composition with 39.83 and 32.25%, respectively. The highest number of chromosomal bridges and clumping were obtained in 0.024 mM of phenolic composition with about 19.27 and 29.83%, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, phenolic composition obtained from the methanol extract of E. crus-galli had asignificant inhibitory effect on germination traits and mitosis division in root tip cells of rice. Thus, the amount of E. crus-galli residues in the field should be considered in direct and indirect cultivation of rice.