Effect of selected fungicides on cellulase activity of epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta)

Abstract

Eisenia fetida, as the test specimen was exposed to two selected fungicides, carbendazim and captan, commonly used by the farmers, in natural garden soil. According to the determined LC50 value of the two fungicides more toxic carbendazim was used for the cellulase enzyme activity assessment. Feeding preference experiment was carried out and they showed maximum preference for Anacardium oxidentale (Cashew) leaves. The test specimen was exposed to sub lethal doses of carbendazim, i.e. 25% of LC50 value and 50% of LC50 value, along with the control set. The enzyme activity measured on the 3rd, 7th, 15th and 30th day from the experiment. The enzyme activity was suppressed a little in between 7th and 15th day of the experiment. From the enzyme activity we can use it as a potential biomarker to detect pesticide pollution in agro ecosystem and can be further used in genotoxicity studies.