Salicylic acid ameliorates cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by metribuzin (herbicides) in model Allium cepa plant

Ideal herbicides are used to shield crop plants from weed competition without harming the non-target plants. Metribuzin is a selective triazinone herbicide applied to control broadleaf weeds, grasses, sedges. But application of metribuzin is reported to damage non-target plants besides controlling the weed emergence. The present study investigated the possible ameliorative role of salicylic acid in protecting plants from herbicide toxicity. Metribuzin treatment caused a significant decrease in root length, number of root tips and ultimately in mitotic index along with induction of different types of chromosomal abnormalities in the meristematic cells of Allium cepa roots. Exogenously salicylic acid treatment resulted in significant increase in root length, number of root tips and mitotic index and also resulted in significant reduction in chromosomal abnormalities. These results exemplify the ameliorative effect of salicylic acid under stress conditions and reveal that it is effective in alleviating the toxic stress of herbicide metribuzin at different concentrations.