B. Reddi Bhargavi¹, Ravi Kumar Vellanki¹, Rajanikanth Akurathi², Jagadeeswara Reddy Kanala^2,

In this study, Eco-Genotoxic effect of two commercially available pesticides mixtures, Deltamethrin 1% + Triazophos 35% EC (D+T) and Profenofos 40% EC + Cypermethrin 4% EC (P+C), being used widely in agriculture were evaluated on earthworm Eisenia fetida. Initially LC50 for each pesticide mixture was determined by conducting acute toxicity study followed by exposing earthworms to three lowest concentrations of pesticide mixtures for 72 hours. At the end of the exposure period, the coelomocytes were isolated from the earthworm and processed for comet assay. Acute toxicity test revealed that the toxic concentration of D+T (EC) and P+C (EC) at 0.6mg/ml and 0.5mg/ml of distilled water, shown LC50 value of mortality as compare to control set of experiment. The behavior of Earthworm has been changed like body folded and less active as per the increased the dose of the toxicants. On analysis it was observed that D+T (EC) induced strand breaks at a concentration of 0.3mg/ml, whereas P+C EC induced strand breaks at 0.3 and 0.6mg/ml. From the results it is concluded that the pesticide mixtures evaluated in the study could be moderately genotoxic to earthworm Eisenia fetida.

Eco-Genotoxicity, LC50, comet assay, pesticide mixtures, Emulsifiable concentrate (EC)