Journal or Publishing Institution: British Biotechnology Journal
Author(s): Stanley, O.N. and Ochulor, A.J.
Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study
Record ID: 2205
Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the toxicity of Roundup, aglyphosate-containing herbicide to the earthworm Nsukkadrilus mbae and the associated histological changes. One hundred and sixty five
earthworms were randomly divided into five groups and exposed to different concentrations of glyphosate (0.0, 13.0, 52.0, 117.0 and 207 mg/Kg soil) for 96 h. The mortality was recorded every 24h and after 96 h, sections of the earthwormfrom each treatment group were prepared for microscopic examination. There was no mortality in the control group and the survivors in the treatment groups were weak. The percentage mortality was least after 24 h and highest after 96 h and the mortality was significantly different (P = 0.05) in the groups except after 24h. The survival rate was generally concentration and duration dependent. The 96 h LC 50 value was 10.4 mg/Kg soil. The observed histopathological changes
included rupture of the cuticullar wall, tissue necrosis and prominent vacuolations. The circular and longitudinal muscle layers had altered structural integrity. These histopathological endpoints could be
useful biomonitors of glyphosate toxicities in ecotoxicological studies involving earthworms.
Keywords: Glyphosate, Nsukkadrilus mbae, contaminated soil, necrosis, biomarker, earthworms, herbicides, mortality, nontarget effects, death rate, weedicides, weedkillers
Citation: Stanley, O.N. and Ochulor, A.J., 2014. Histopathological effects of glyphosate and its toxicity to the earthworm Nsukkadrilus mbae. British Biotechnology Journal, 4(2), p.149.
