The comet assay detects adaptation to MNU-induced DNA damage in barley.

We have established the comet assay for detection of DNA damage in barley. Immediately after treatment with the monofunctional alkylating agent MNU, a dose-dependent increase of DNA damage (mainly DNA breaks) was detected by the alkaline denaturation/neutral gel electrophoresis (A/N) variant of the comet assay in nuclei isolated from root tip meristems and from young leaves. A reduction of damage was observed within meristematic nuclei but not in differentiated leaf nuclei 48h after treatment. Adaptive pretreatment with a nontoxic dose of cadmium chloride prior to challenge treatment with MNU reduced the frequency of chromatid type aberrations, micronuclei and aneuploid cells as well as the amount of DNA in comet tails of meristematic nuclei.