Analysis of genomic stability and DNA damage in plants exposed to cement dust pollution using the RAPD analysis

One of the most important environmental pollutants is cement dust. In this study, RAPD technology was used todefine the potential genotoxic impact of cement dust on plants. For this purpose, the DNA comparison of 12 plant species(Convolvulus sepium, Astragalus christianus, Taraxacum androssovii Medicago varia, Alyssum murale, Artemisiaspisigera, Falcaria vulgaris, Anchusa strigose, Glaucium leiocarpum, Salvia syriaca, Cryciata taurica Tragopogonalbinervis)collected from the areas of 10000 m (Control area) or 0-100 m away from Askale cement factory in Erzurum;was performed. 16 primers were used, and 390 bands were obtained. Important differences were observed in plant RAPDprofiles collected from 0-100 m areas when compared to their respective controls (10000 m away from the factory). Somebands in control plants got lost, and new band formations were observed. The Genomic template stability (GTS) valuedecreased significantly in plants collected from 0-100 m area as compared to the controls (%56.20). Soil samples from 0-100 m and control area were collected and examined for their heavy metal contents. According to the analysis results,Nickel, Cadmium, Zinc, Lead and Copper concentrations were found to be dramatically high in the soil collected from 0-100 m as compared to the control area. These results indicate that the high heavy metal content in the soil causes thechanges in RAPD profiles and GTS in plants. The data also indicated that RAPD and GTS assays are basic, effective andreproducible means of the genotoxicity control of environmental pollution.