Toxic, genotoxic and cytological effects of two very commonly used seed-tretament fungicides, Indofil and Raxil, were studied on Drosophila melanogaster. In Drosophila no toxicity to the adults was observed with Indofil upto 3,00,000 ppm and with Raxil upto 2,50,000 ppm. With the increase in the dose of Indofil and Raxil, there was decrease in egg-to-adult development. The LC50 (lethal concentration 50 w.r.t. egg-to-adult development) values for Indofil and Raxil, as calculated by probit regression analysis, were found to be 650 and 12,500 ppm, respectively. Thus Indofil was found to be 19.23 times more toxic than Raxil on Drosophila larvae. At LC50 dose, Indofil failed to induce any complete SLRLs in 300 sperm tested. However, Raxil at LC50 dose, induced only one complete SLRL in 300 sperm tested. Both the chemicals induced semi-SLRLs (Indofil 6.33%; Raxil 12.33%). Neither of the two chemicals at their LC50 doses induced any chromosomal abnormality in salivary gland chromosomes of D. melanogaster.
Drosophila melanogaster, Genotoxicity, Indofil, Raxil
