Assessment of the genotoxicity potential of the nematicide insecticide carbofuran in wheat cells

Carbofuran (Furadan), an insecticide-nematicide, is widely used for seed treatment in Brazil, against pests in crops such as wheat, rice and corn. It was assessed for its cytotoxic and or clastogenic potential in root meristems of Triticum aestivum (tested in vivo). Seed samples (1OO grams each) were individually treated with one, two, four and eight liters of the pure commercial product/lOO kg seed and germinated on three substrates: virgin soil, sterilized soil and growth chamber (on paper). For all treatments, no cytotoxic or clastogenic effects were observed in the meristem root cells.