Response of the paddy field cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum to carbofuran

Effect of lambda cyhalothrin on Calothrix sp. (GUEco 1001), an autochthonous cyanobacterium of rice fields of Brahmaputra floodplain

Pesticide contamination in the rice fields has manifested into a serious global environmental concern. Application of pesticides in the rice fields has deleterious effects on non-target organisms including nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria which help to maintain the rice field fertility. In the present research endeavor, the effect of lambda cyhalothrin (5% EC), a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, has been studied on the growth and pigments content of Calothrix sp. (GUEco 1001), an indigenous strain isolated from rice grown areas of Brahmaputra floodplain. To study the toxic effect of lambda cyhalothrin, the test organism was exposed to varying concentrations of the insecticide i.e., 20 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, and 160 ppm based upon the determination of LC50 for a period of 20 days. The result obtained in the laboratory showed a progressive decrease in the growth and pigments content by the test organism with increasing concentrations of the lambda cyhalothrin against time dose-dependent manner. At high dose (160 ppm), the test organism showed significant decrease in dry weight biomass (54.5%), chlorophyll-a (68%), carotenoids (38%), phycocyanin (80%), and nitrogen contents (55%) over the control. A little but insignificant stimulatory effect on growth and chlorophyll-a contents was recorded in 20 ppm treatment of the insecticide that, however, was reversed in case of carotenoids and phycocyanin contents.

Effect of fungicides and insecticides on growth and enzyme activity of four cyanobacteria

Cyanobacterial populations introduced into crop fields as biofertilizer become non-target organisms for the pesticides and fungicides applied in the field. Effect of four commonly used pesticides viz. Bagalol, Mancozeb (fungicides), Thiodan and Phorate (insecticides) was studied on growth and different enzymes of four cyanobacterial species viz. Nostoc ellipsosporum, Scytonema simplex, Tolypothrix tenuis, and Westiellopsis prolifica. EC 50 concentration of each pesticide was determined for all cyanobacteria. Bagalol and Thiodan were found to be the most toxic. Both the fungicides and insecticides inhibited the activity of nitrogenase and glutamine synthetase (GS) at EC 50 concentration in all the four species studied. Bagalol incurred maximum inhibition of nitrogenase and GS activity on N. ellipsosporum and S. simplex while Thiodan and Phorate had maximum effect on T. tenuis, and W. prolifica. Mancozeb had lesser effect on all the above enzymes. One catabolic enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism, isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and one anabolic enzyme isocitrate lyase (ICL), which is related to glyoxylate pathway as well as gluconeogenesis, were also assayed. Cell free extracts of cyanobacteria treated with pesticides for 7 days show a drastic reduction of ICDH activity. ICL activity was induced in the organisms when treated with pesticides.

Effects of carbaryl and 1-naphthol on soil population of cyanobacteria and microalgae and select cultures of diazotrophic cyanobacteria

Carbaryl application to soil collected from a rice fallow field was relatively less toxic to viable estimates of cyanobacteria and microalgae under nonflooded conditions than under flooded conditions. Application of 1-naphthol, the hydrolysis product of carbaryl, to soil under both the regimes increased the population of both cyanobacteria and microalgae. Soil application of carbaryl and 1-naphthol in combination, up to 1.0 kg ha(-1), was nontoxic to the viable population. The toxicity exerted by carbaryl and 1-naphthol towards growth, measured in terms of chlorophyll a, and nitrogenase activity was more pronounced in Anabaena spp. than in Nostoc spp.

Comparative toxicity of the pesticides carbofuran and malathion to the freshwater flagellate Euglena gracilis

Pesticides are toxic chemicals used for agricultural as well as non-agricultural purposes. The toxicity of pesticides does not remain limited to the site of application but they also cause toxicity to non-target organisms in terrestrial as well as in aquatic environments. This study discusses the comparative toxicity of a carbamate (carbofuran) and an organophosphorus (malathion) pesticide to the freshwater flagellate Euglena gracilis during short- and long-term exposures. To evaluate the toxicity of the pesticides, different parameters of the flagellate, like cell density, motility, swimming velocity, cell shape, gravitactic orientation, photosynthetic efficiency, and concentration of light harvesting pigments, were used as end points. Carbofuran was found to be more toxic to E. gracilis than malathion and adversely affected almost all the tested parameters in short- and long-term experiments. The only significant adverse effect by malathion could be demonstrated on the swimming velocity of cells in short-term experiments. The adverse effects of the pesticides were more pronounced during short-term than during long-term exposure.