Abstract
The present endeavour was aimed to investigate the chronic response of Westiellopsis prolifica to an organophosphate insecticide malathion at different concentrations 30, 60 and 90ppm. The influence of malathion on growth (biomass), pigments (chlorophyll-a, carotenoid), release of metabolites such as protein and carbohydrate was analysed for a period of 16 days under aseptic laboratory conditions. Results revealed enhancement in chlorophyll-a production at 30ppm on 4th day (p?0.05) and 8th day (p?0.05), from the day of inoculation. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the carotenoid, protein and carbohydrate content with increase in malathion concentration in a time and dose dependent manner. However, a little but insignificant increase in biomass was recorded on the 4th day at 30ppm concentration over the control. The study revealed that the reduction in biomass, protein and carbohydrate content with the increase of malathion concentrations was an indication of its toxicity to the test cyanobacterium which is one of the natural biofertilizers in the rice field ecosystem.
Highlights
Pesticides are synthetic organic compounds used in almost all the crop fields to control unwanted but selective pests [1]
The pesticide used for the study was malathion (50%EC), an organophosphate insecticide which is commonly used in rice fields is obtained from a chemical shop in Guwahati (Assam)
The biomass content of W. prolifica with malathion treatment is shown in the Fig. 1
Summary
Pesticides are synthetic organic compounds used in almost all the crop fields to control unwanted but selective pests [1]. There are various types of pesticides widely used throughout the tropic which includes organophosphate, organochlorine, carbamate and pyrethroid groups. These are chemical compounds and are stimulatory, inhibitory or neutral depending on the nature of the chemicals, its concentration and the time of treatment [2]. The use of pesticides has become an integral part of modern agricultural practices Though they are being used for killing some targeted organisms, it ends up affecting the non targeted and beneficial organisms too. It has been reported that 10-15 % yield loss in rice production is accounted for insect/ pest related causes [4] To overcome this loss, Horizon e-Publishing Group different insecticides are used throughout the globe and malathion is one of them
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