Toxicity of Four Commercial Fungicides, Alone and in Combination, on the Earthworm : A Field Experiment.

This study investigated the sub-lethal effects of four commercial fungicides-two foliar (AmistarXtra and Mirador) and two ear fungicides (Prosaro and Icarus)-applied alone and in combination to wheat crops on caged earthworms (). We measured biomarkers that included detoxification responses (glutathione S-transferase, GST), oxidative stress levels (lipid peroxidation, LPO, and catalase, CAT), DNA damage (comet assay), energy reserves (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH), and immune response (lysozyme activity, LYS). The absence of significant differences in catalase and lipid peroxidation levels suggested no oxidative stress due to fungicide exposure. However, the foliar fungicide AmistarXtra induced the highest GST activity and DNA fragmentation, suggesting synergistic effects between its active ingredients and undisclosed co-formulants. Similar effects observed with the AmistarXtra-Prosaro mixture confirmed the greater toxicity of AmistarXtra. This study provides novel insights into the sub-lethal effects of single and combined commercial fungicides on a standard toxicity test organism, shedding light on the ecological implications of fungicide use in agroecosystems and reinforcing the need for pesticide reduction.