Impact of food additives on mitotic chromosomes of Vicia faba L.

Present study was conducted to study the impact of food additives like boric acid, citric acid and sodium metabisulphite individually, in different concentrations, on root tips of Vicia faba L. Cytological studies revealed significant decrease in mitotic index with an increase in concentration of the food additives. Most frequent cytological abnormalities observed are fragments, disturbed metaphase, C-mitosis, laggards, bridges, stickiness, precocious movement of chromosomes, unequal and late separation of chromosomes. Bridges and fragments were more frequent at anaphase. The percentage of chromosomal aberrations at mitosis increased with an increase in concentration of the food additives.