Movement and distribution pattern of the residues of granular insecticides in tropical soil and okra plants

Summary The increased downward mobility of phorate, quinalphos and carbofuran residues was detected in soil with increase in depth of soil column whereas aldicarb was found to remain localised mainly in 0–7.5 cm and 7.5–15.0 cm layers. Persistence of organophosphate insecticides was higher as compared to carbamates in all the soil layers. Residues of all the four insecticides got distributed in all parts of okra plant through uptake but accumulated in higher amounts in fruits only. Contribution No. 312/83 from I.I.H.R. Bangalore (India)     

Fish Cholinesterases as Biomarkers of Sublethal Effects of Organophosphorus and Carbamates in Tissues of Labeo Rohita

Organophosphates and carbamates are major agrochemicals that strongly affect different neuroenzymes and the growth of various fish species. Here, we study the effect of sublethal concentrations of profenofos and carbofuran on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and the associated health risk in fish. Labeo rohita fingerlings were exposed to three sublethal concentrations of profenofos and carbofuran. The minimum cholinesterase activities in the brain, gills, muscle, kidney, liver, and blood were after exposure to profenofos (0.06 mg/L). The minimum AChE and BuChE activities in the brain, gills, muscle, kidney, liver, and blood were after exposure to carbofuran (0.28 and 0.198 mg/L). Exposure to both types of pesticides affected the functions of these organs, including metabolism and neurotransmission, to various extents at different exposure concentrations. These findings suggest that they are required to be properly monitored in the environment, to reduce their toxic effects on nontarget organisms     

Comparative study of growth-promoting capacity of some insecticides/nematicides

Summary The growth promoting capacity of the insecticides/nematicides, Curater (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate), Temik (2-methyl-2-(methylthio) propionaldehyde 0-(methylcarbamoyl) oxim and Mocap (0-ethyl S, S-Dipropyl phosphorodithioate) were compared. For each product, three equimolar doses were applied: 1.3×10⁻³, 2.6×10⁻³ and 5.2×10⁻³ molar per m². The treatments were applied to a field soil, part of which was untreated, part of which was steamed to test the direct effect of the products on the test plants. In the first experiment wheat, lettuce and mungbeans were sown immediately after broad cast application of the insecticides. In the second experiment three maize cultivars (Suroit, Breda and LG 12) were used as test plants: one half of the soil was treated with the insecticides just before sowing the maize, the other half was originally treated in the previous experiment. Considering the effect on growth (the weight of the two months old wheat and lettuce plants and the length of the mungbeans) in unsteamed and steamed soil increasing amounts of Mocap had a negative effect on the growth of beans and wheat: in contrast the weight of the lettuce was markedly increased. Curater 5G and Temik 10G had no influence on the mungbeans and a slightly positive effect on the growth of lettuce. The growth of wheat was slightly decreased by Temik 10G and slightly increased by Curater 5G. The growth of maize was decreased by increasing amounts of Mocap in both steamed and unsteamed soil. However, in plots treated in the previous experiment the reverse effect was observed, growth being slightly improved.     

Attenuation of cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms in kidney of rats intoxicated with carbofuran

Carbofuran, an anticholinestrase carbamate, is commonly used as an insecticide. Its toxic effect on kidney is less established. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of carbofuran on kidneys and to understand the mechanism involved in its nephrotoxicity. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of eight animals each; control animals received sunflower oil (vehicle) and carbofuran exposed animals were treated with carbofuran (1 mg/kg body weight) orally for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, significant increase was observed in urea and creatinine levels in serum along with the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, suggesting nephrotoxicity. The antioxidant defense system of animals treated with carbofuran was altered in terms of increased lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and total thiols and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase). The results indicate that carbofuran is nephrotoxic and increased oxidative stress appears to be involved in its nephrotoxic effects. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 26:393–398, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.21433     

呋喃丹降解菌CDS-1的双标记菌株的构建

用Sau3AI消化呋喃丹降解菌Sphingomonassp.CDS-1的基因组DNA,将所得DNA片段与BamHⅠ酶切的启动子探针载体pRobe-GFP酶连后转化E.coliDH5α感受态细胞,在选择性平板上培养,从大约1×104个菌落中筛选到50个含启动子片段的阳性克隆。挑选其中一个发光强度最强的阳性克隆F7,将它的重组质粒pF7用EcoRⅠ和HindⅢ双酶切后得到包含Sphingomonassp.CDS-1启动子和gfp基因的DNA片段,将该片段克隆到广宿主载体pPZP201上,得到pPZP201-gfp质粒。将pPZP201-gfp通过三亲接合转移至Sphingomonassp.CDS-1中得到GFP标记菌株CDS-gfp,经荧光显微镜观察,gfp基因在CDS-gfp中表达量很高。对标记菌株进行连续传代10次(48h/次),发现pPZP201-gfp依然存在,而且发光明显。通过NotⅠ酶切位点把linA基因连接到pUT/mini-Tn5上构建新的转座子载体pUT/mini-Tn5-linA。以pRK600为辅助质粒将pUT/mini-Tn5-linA引入到CDS-1中,linA基因通过转座作用,插入到CDS-gfp的染色体中,得到双标记菌株CDS-GFP-LinA。该菌株是一株能同时降解γ-六六六和呋喃丹的基因工程菌,本研究的结果为研究Sphingomonassp.CDS-1的生态学行为奠定了基础。     

The impact of carbofuran soil application on growth and mycorrhizal colonization by Glomus clarum of groundnut

The influence of soil application of carbofuran on the growth response of groundnut, and both mycorrhizal colonization and sporulation of Glomus clarum was studied in a pot culture experiment. Carbofuran application with or without mycorrhizal inoculation increased the height of the potted plants measured 8 weeks after sowing. Mycorrhizal plants were significantly taller than nonmycorrhizal plants at the final harvest time (14 weeks). Carbofuran, at the recommmended field dose of up to 2 kg/ha, greatly increased shoot dry matter and pod yield in mycorrhizal groundnut. Colonization and sporulation by this VAM fungus were also enhanced significantly at these dose levels. The application of carbofuran at 5 kg/ha inhibited both growth and mycorrhizal status of groundnut.     

Carbofuran degradation mediated by three related plasmid systems

Two carbofuran-metabolizing Sphingomonas strains, TA and CD, were isolated from soils with differing histories of exposure to carbofuran. These strains were compared with a previously described strain, Sphingomonas sp. CFO6, with regard to growth rate, formation of metabolites, and plasmid content and structure. Extensive regions of similarity were observed between the three different plasmid systems as evidenced by cross hybridization. In addition, all three systems harbor IS1412, an insertion sequence (IS) element involved in heat-induced loss of carbofuran phenotype in CFO6, and heat-induced carbofuran deficient mutants of all three strains correlated with loss of IS1412. A carbofuran deficient mutant of TA generated by induction of IS elements was complemented by reintroduction of the wild-type plasmid, confirming the presence of genes required for carbofuran metabolism on this plasmid. Carbofuran metabolism in these three strains is clearly linked via plasmids of different numbers and sizes that share extensive common regions, and carbofuran-degrading genes may be associated with active IS elements.     

Characterization of a carbofuran-degrading bacterium and investigation of the role of plasmids in catabolism of the insecticide carbofuran

A bacterium capable of using the carbamate insecticide carbofuran as a sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from soil. The ability to catabolise carbofuran phenol, produced by cleavage of the carbamate ester linkage of the insecticide, was lost at very high frequency when the bacterium was grown in the absence of carbofuran. Plasmid analyses together with curing and mating experiments indicated that the presence of a large plasmid (pIH3, >199 kb) was required for the degradation of carbofuran phenol.Abbreviations Rif^r Rifampicin resistant - Rif^s Rifampicin sensitive - CFH⁺ Carbofuran hydrolase activity present - CFH^- Carbofuran hydrolase activity absent - CFP⁺ ability to degrade carbofuran phenol present - CFP^- ability to degrade carbofuran phenol absent - MS mineral salts medium. MSCF minimal mineral salts medium containing 0.25 mM carbofuran as sole source of carbon and energy - YP MS medium containing 5 g/l yeast extract and 5 g/l Bactopeptone. YPCF as above but with the addition of 1 mM carbofuran - EPTC S-ethyl-N,N-dipropylthiocarbamate - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAG N-acetylglucosamine - 3-HB 3-hydroxybutyrate     

Disruption of pituitary-ovarian axis by carbofuran in catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

We investigated whether carbofuran (CF), a carbamate pesticide, at sub-lethal concentration had any adverse effects on reproductive function of the Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. 17β-Estradiol content of serum and ovary of pre-spawning (P) and spawning (S) fish was reduced after sub-lethal concentration of carbofuran treatment (0.5–2 mg/ml, 30 days). After 30 days of CF treatment, the serum and ovarian vitellogenin levels of fish at the P stage were also reduced but remained unaltered in the S stage. The staining intensity of the pituitary gonadotrophs of the pre-spawning fish was significantly higher in CF-treated fish compared to controls suggesting the inability of the pituitary gonadotrophs to release gonadotropin following CF treatment. CF thus acts as an antiestrogenic, endocrine-disrupting agent in fish, possibly targeting the pituitary-gonad axis.     

Carbofuran-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mammalian Brain

Chronic exposure to carbofuran, a carbamate pesticide, via oral administration has been reported to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rat brain. However, information regarding the effect of short-term intraperitoneal (i.p.) carbofuran intoxication on oxidative stress is lacking. In the present study, the effect of carbofuran on oxidative indices in brain of Wistar rats has been determined by exposing the animals to three subacute concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg body weight) equivalent to 10, 20, and 40%, respectively, of its LD₅₀ (i.p.) for 24 h. Rat liver has been used as a positive control. The results demonstrated that carbofuran treatment at the 3 concentrations tested caused significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) by 12.50, 34.38, and 59.38%, respectively. The increased oxidative stress at same pesticide concentrations significantly induced activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in rat brain; the impact on catalase being more marked only at high-pesticide doses (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg body weight). Carbofuran also caused reduction in protein content of rat tissues tested. Rat brain was more severely affected by carbofuran than liver. The results clearly demonstrated that i.p. administration of carbofuran accelerated oxidative stress in rat brain in a dose-dependent manner.