Studies on physicochemical parameters and cytological effects of sewage water on root meristems of <i>Lens culinaris</i> Medik.

Heavy metal pollution of sewage water might have an impact not only on the plant system but also on human health. Lens culinaris Medik.’s chromosomes (2n=14) were investigated for assessing physicochemical parameters and cytotoxic potential by employing a radicle chromosomal aberration assay. Seeds of lentils were germinated in different sites of sewage water, such as T1, T2, T3, and T4 (distilled water). The effect of different treatments was analyzed by evaluating the germination rate, mitotic index, radicle length, chromosomal aberrations, and CV in root tips meristematic tissue. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that the pH is acidic in nature, with heavy metals Fe and Mn in T1 sewage water exceeding Indian Standard 0500:2012 permissible limits, while other chemicals Pb, Cl, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Zn are within standard tolerance limits. Compared with the control sample, the results established that the heavy metal-contaminated sewage water can be correlated with significant MI reduction (p＜0.01) and an increase in different chromosomal aberrations such as karyorrhexis, bi-nucleate, fragmented chromosome, sticky metaphase, c-metaphase, diagonal anaphase, telophase laggard, ring chromosome, diagonal sticky anaphase, and anaphase bridge in root tip meristems of Lens culinaris Medik., thereby harming the health of living organisms.