[Mutagenic activity of pesticides (author's transl)].

The mutagenicity of sixty pesticides was investigated in three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using reversion from histidine and methionine auxotrophy as a measure of the induced mutation. Mutagenesis was observed in twenty three compounds; the strains employed exhibit different susceptibility to the mutagenic action. In view of the data obtained the possible mechanisms of action of the different class of compounds are discussed.