Abstract
Although pesticides are extensively utilized against plant pests and diseases, the unsolicited impacts on our non-target organisms must be addressed. In this work, we investigate the DNA damage as well as the change in protein content of palm seedlings caused by, cypermethrin (CM) as an insecticide. Genetic differences of seedlings treated with various concentrations of CM compared to the control were detected by applying SDS-PAGE analysis and ISSR markers. Seedlings were treated for one week by the application of four different CM concentrations in the range (18.75 -150 ppm). SDS-PAGE revealed large changes in the protein patterns such as the disappearance of some bands at higher CM concentrations and the appearance of a new number of bands reaching maximum at of the lowest CM concentration (0.25 of the recommended). ISSR showed induced variations in banding profiles of all treated seedlings compared to control. The obtained DNA polymorphisms have indicated the genotoxic effects of CM for all concentrations used. The data generated in this study show not only the effect of CM on the treated seedlings but also its extended effects on the next offspring.