DNA ALTERATION INDUCED BY CADMIUM (CD) METAL IN Padina pavonica (PHAEOPHYTA) MARINE BROWN ALGAE

Genotoxic effect of cadmium (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/L) in Padina pavonica (Linnaeus) Thivy (Phaeophyta) marine algae has been evaluated after 4 days Cd exposure using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker. Twenty-two RAPD primers yielded 137 discernible loci of which 106 bands (77.4%) were polymorphic. DNA variation induced by Cd stress was manifested by polymorphic bands number and genomic template stability% (GTS%) under Cd stress compared to their respective control. In this respect, estimated polymorphic bands decreased from 95 to 87 bands as Cd increased from 2.5 to 10 mg/L. Whereas, estimated GTS% showed an inverse tendency. In this respect, GTS% increased from 30.7 to 42.7% as Cd increased from 2.5 to 10 mg/L. Thereby, the current investigation highlighted somewhat the potential use of P. pavonica as a useful bioindicator of Cd pollution.