The toxic effects of mancozeb (fungicide) on fertilization and early embryonic stages of sedentary polychaete Hydroides elegans (Haswell, 1883)
S. Vijayaragavan
1Deputy Director, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Regional Centre, Madurai, Tamil Nadu - 625018 (India) Email: s.v.ragavann@gmail.com Correspondance Author: Dr. S. Vijayaragavan Email: s.v.ragavann@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The toxicity test has been performed to examine the effects of pesticide (fungicide) on fertilization and early development of marine Polychaete Hydroides elegans(H.elegans). Mancozeb is a widely used non- systemic broad-spectrum fungicide of dithiocarbamate of chemical group. The fungicide leads to pollution of the ground water, aquatic environments and also marine environment. It directly enters the food chains of the organisms and it affects the marine ecosystems. The pesticides alter the regular functions of the marine organisms as well as physiological structure. The toxic effect of Mancozeb on fertilization, early developmental stages of H. elegans was examined and it was found that the rate of successful development of embryonic development decreased when the concentration of Mancozeb increased in sea water. The results presents here, strongly suggest that the mechanism of action of the fungicide probably acts on sever as intracellular targets based on EC50 values of the present study; It indicated that Mancozeb was toxic to the early developmental stages of H.elegans.