Effect of Sugar Mill Effluent on Mitotic chromosomes of Pisum sativum

Sugar mill is a sulphination factory and its effluent is known to be acidic in nature. These factories are discharging their effluents in aquatic system that has led to the disturbance in growth and reproductive behavior of the Pea plants i. e. Pisum sativum. The area of the North Bihar, where this work is carried out is known for cultivation of Pea plants on large scale. Over the years decrease in the yield of the crop has been noticed. The effect of sugar mill effluent on Pea plant has not been studied so an attempt has been taken to know the mitotic chromosome behavior on Pea plant and their effect on productivity. Somatic chromosome count of Pisum sativum has been recorded as 2n = 14 and in meiotic studies n = 7 (Base number) has been reported. Effluents of sugar mills of North Bihar contain both organic and inorganic hazardous materials and non-biodegradable materials. During the course of production it has been dumping effluents in water body, which affected human health as well as plant productivity. Water pollutants of this area can be broadly divided into two categories i.e. Toxic and Nontoxic, the former may include heavy metals, phenols, pesticides etc. and the later may comprise wholly or partly of degradable organic materials and minerals. Sugar mills effluents is a major problem, as polluted water is used for irrigation of crop plants like Pisum sativum (Pea). Following physic-chemical analysis of sugar mill effluents have been done during study. They include pH, Temperature ( 0C), Conductivity, Total Alkalinity, Free CO2, Turbidity (NTU), TS, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, COD, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Oil & Grease. It was noticed that due to sugar mills effluents several types of irregularities like - breaking of chromosome, clumping, stickiness, unequal separation, formation of micronuclei and laggards formation have been recorded. It was also noted that biological materials such as seeds and roots of Pisum sativum when come in contact with such polluted water, a series of reaction occurs between chemical compound and active tissue. Chemical compounds reach to react with the genetic targets such as chromosomes, and DNA. As a result of such reaction several types of irregularities in cell division occur. It can be safely stated that “the presence of chemicals in specific proportion may be responsible for damaging the chromosome and ultimately the decrease in productivity of Pea Plant i.e. Pisum sativum.