Evaluation of toxicity of Cercospora piaropi in a mycoherbicide formulation by using bacterial bioluminescence and the Ames mutagenicity tests.

An evaluation of the potential hazards associated with mutagenicity and acute toxicity of a mycoherbicide formulation based on the fungal pathogen Cercospora piaropi was performed. Neither the mycoherbicide nor any of its components were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 with or without metabolic activation. Both the C. piaropi and the mycoherbicide formulation were shown to be moderately toxic with a bacterial bioluminescence assay. No acute toxicity was found in water samples taken from tanks after treatment of water hyacinth with the mycoherbicide.