Allium cepa and Tradescantia pallida bioassays to evaluate effects of the insecticide imidacloprid

Author(s)

Rodriguez, Yadira Ansoar ^[1] ; Christofoletti, Cintya Ap. ^[2] ; Pedro, Janaina ^[1] ; Bueno, Odair Correa ^[3] ; Malaspina, Osmar ^[3] ; Costa Ferreira, Rafael Alexandre ^[3] ; Fontanetti, Carmem S. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] UNIARARAS Herminio Ometto Fdn, BR-13607339 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] UNESP CEIS Ctr Study Social Insects, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Chemosphere; v. 120, p. 438-442, FEB 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 18

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of pesticides has become a serious environmental concern. Of them, imidacloprid (IMI) is one of the most widely used worldwide. In 2010 in Brazil, 1.934 tonnes of IMI were sold and mainly used for sugarcane crops. Several studies have examined the toxicity of IMI as well as its possible ecological effects. However, few studies have examined its toxicity at the genetic level. This is one of the biggest challenges for the scientific community, which is concerned about the impacts of these contaminants on the environment and human health. In this study, we evaluated the effects of IMI above the genetic material in Allium cepa and Tradescantia pallida following exposure to different concentrations of this insecticide. The results demonstrated that the concentrations tested induced chromosomal alterations and increased the frequency of micronuclei. Therefore, IMI in these concentrations was genotoxic to the tested organisms. These factors should be taken into account when applying this pesticide. Published by Elsevier Ltd. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/50197-2 - Action of products used in cultivation of sugar cane on non-target organisms
• Grantee: Carmem Silvia Fontanetti Christofoletti
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants