About the cytotoxic action of treflan on root cells of Hordeum vulgare L

The investigation of the herbicide (treflan) action on meristem cells of roots of barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L.) was performed. The authors determined the mitotic index and number of meristem cells on different stages of experiment. The following disturbances in morphology and division of cells were revealed: the retardation of the root growth, appearance of a lot of multinucleated cells with partially developed cell walls, the mass death of all cells in the differentiation zone (cells were disconnected from each other, the cell cytoplasm was condensed). The possible causes of morphological disturbances in barley seedlings cells were discussed. The morphological features revealed allow interpreting the phenomenon described as a programmed cell death selectively induced in differentiated root cells.