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Graphical abstract - Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a pendimethalin-based herbicide in Apis mellifera

Graphical abstract - Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a pendimethalin-based herbicide in Apis mellifera

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Public concern about the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms has increased in the recent years. Nevertheless, there is a limited number of studies that address the actual toxic effects of herbicides on insects. This study investigated the side effects of herbicides on non-target organisms inhabiting agroecosystems and performing essential...

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... Genotoxicity analysis showed no significant DNA damage in T. molitor hemocytes, unlike previous findings on other herbicide classes, such as pendimethalin-based formulations on Harpalus rufipes [21], Apis mellifera [53], and glyphosate-based herbicide on Lycaena dispar [70]. This may be due to differences in herbicide formulation, exposure conditions, or mode of actions. ...
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Herbicides are synthetic chemicals that are extensively employed in agricultural practices with the objective of enhancing crop yield and quality. Despite their selectivity for plant systems and being generally regarded as non-toxic to animals, there is a paucity of understanding surrounding the sublethal effects on non-target organisms, including animals. This gap underscores the necessity for ecotoxicological research that prioritizes the identification of suitable models and develops reliable biomarkers for the early assessment of environmental impact. In this context, hemocytes—circulating immune cells found in invertebrates—have been identified as a crucial system for assessing sublethal toxicological effects, given their role in immune defense and overall organism health. Tenebrio molitor, a beetle pest of stored grain, was used as a model for the assessment of the effects of a metribuzin-based herbicide (MTB, Feinzin DF 70, 70% metribuzin, 0.25 kg ha−1). Following a 96 h exposure to MTB, the males (7–10 days post-eclosion) were examined for multiple biomarkers in their hemocytes, including cell density, phagocytic activity, lysosomal membrane stability, and cytological changes. Although no mortality was observed, exposure to MTB resulted in a reduction in the phagocytic index and an increase in blast-like cells, indicating the potential for immunotoxicity. Lysosomal membrane stability was reduced, though no significant changes in hemocyte density or nuclear morphology were observed. These responses indicate potential immune system impairment, which could affect the beetle’s fitness and reproductive potential. This study highlights the potential of hemocytes for assessing sublethal herbicide effects, raising concerns about the ecological impact of herbicides in agroecosystems and their potential risks to both wildlife and human health.
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This study aims to examine the restorative impact of corn cob biochar (CCB) on pendimethalin (PMD)-induced toxicity in Oreochromis niloticus. Fish were divided into four groups: the first control group without treatment, the second group (CCB) exposed to 10 g CCB/L, the third group (PDM) exposed to 0.355 mg PDM/L, and the fourth group (PDM+ CCB) receiving both 0.355 mg PDM/L and 10 g CCB/L for 30 days. PDM exposure resulted in behavioral alterations, low survival rate (73.33%), hematological and biochemical impairments, increased oxidative stress, suppressed immunity, and histopathological damage in gill, liver, and brain tissues. Co-treatment with CCB significantly alleviated these effects, as evidenced by improved survival rate (88.88%), hematological, biochemical, and antioxidant-immune parameters and reduced histopathological alterations. In conclusion, CCB demonstrated a promising potential to mitigate PDM-induced toxicity in O. niloticus by enhancing physiological, biochemical, and histological resilience.
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The research aimed to study the protective effect of the Epin-Extra and Zircon preparations when used with the Stomp and Dianat herbicides in plant cultivation. In all studies, barley served as a test culture. Barley is an excellent model bioobject for genetic and environmental studies. We studied the effect of these preparations on the initial stages of ontogenesis, growth, development, and productivity of barley. In order to determine the mutagenicity of herbicides, we used laboratory germination, growth dynamics, phytotoxicity, formation of chlorophyll mutations, cytotoxicity, and productivity of barley as tests. The following methods were used: (1) seed germination with the use of filter paper rolls and polyethylene, (2) cytogenetic analysis, and (3) field experiment. All studies were performed according to a single scheme. The experimental results were statistically processed. Studying the germination rate and laboratory germination of barley showed a positive effect of the Epin-Extra and Zircon growth regulators when combined with herbicides. Under the action of herbicides on 10-day-old barley seedlings, we observed a strong toxic effect, which was significantly reduced when herbicides acted jointly with growth regulators. The chlorophyll mutations found in the study of plant growth dynamics indicated a mutational process occurring under the action of the Dianat. The mutagenicity of the studied herbicides was revealed by the cytogenetic method. The drop in mitotic activity and an increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrations in meristematic cells of barley indicated this. The effect of the Epin-Extra and Zircon growth regulators improved the process of cell division and significantly reduced the frequency of chromosome aberrations; that is, at the cellular level, they were most effective. The protective effect of growth regulators, when used together with herbicides, was also manifested in a field experiment: Already when production doses of herbicides are reduced by half, the yield significantly increases, the effectiveness of bioprotection is maintained, and the use of plant growth regulators strengthens and enhances the result. Changing the recommended doses makes it possible to significantly reduce the pesticide pressure on agrocenoses, which can considerably improve the state of the environment. That is, practical tasks are also solved to obtain hygienically high-quality agricultural products and to ensure rational and environmentally safe farming. Based on our scientific and experimental material, it seems possible to promote the minimization and control of the applied chemicals in modern plant growing, taking into account the ecological and biological characteristics of the grown plants, the properties of ecosystems, the ecological-geographical and functional-economic characteristics of landscapes.