Teratogenic effects of the fungicide benomyl on posterior segmental regeneration in the earthworm, Eisenia fetida Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Earthworms, Eisenia fetida, were treated by surface exposure to the fungicide benomyl at various stages of posterior segmental regeneration. Teratogenic effects of benomyl were observed when worms were treated 711 days after amputation (i.e. during the normal period of segmental replication), but not during days 15, 1317, or 1923. Teratogenic effects included a reduction in the number of regenerated segments, an increased frequency of segmental groove anomalies, and a variety of monstrosities. The effects of benomyl treatment on the number of regenerated segments and frequency of anomalies were dosedependent within a narrow concentration range (approximately 0.25.0 mg litre1); at higher concentrations (e.g. 25 mg litre1) teratogenic effects were less frequent because the onset of segmental delineation was delayed until well after exposure. Noninvasive electrophysiological recordings from treated worms indicated that functional integrity of giant nerve fibre conduction pathways was established in all anomalously regenerated tail segments, except in a twotailed monstrosity. The evidence supports the hypothesis that these teratogenic effects derive from an antimitotic mode of action of benomyl on segmental regeneration. Copyright 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

published proceedings

  • Pest Management Science

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • Zoran, M. J., Heppner, T. J., & Drewes, C. D.

citation count

  • 12

complete list of authors

  • Zoran, Mark J||Heppner, Thomas J||Drewes, Charles D

publication date

  • December 1986

publisher