title: Effect of some commonly used pesticides on seed germination, biomass production and photosynthetic pigments in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).
abstract: Pesticides are highly toxic substances. Their toxicity may not be absolutely specific to the target organisms but can adversely affect different processes in the non-target host plants. In the present study, the effect of over application of four commonly used pesticides (emamectin benzoate, alpha-cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and imidacloprid) was evaluated on the germination, seedling vigor and photosynthetic pigments in tomato. The obtained results revealed that seed germination was decreased by the pesticides and this effect was more prominent at early stages of exposure. All the tested pesticides reduced the growth of tomato when applied in higher concentration than the recommended dose, but at lower doses the pesticides had some stimulatory effects on growth as compared to the control. A similar effect of pesticides was observed on the photosynthetic pigments, i.e. a decrease in pigments concentrations was caused at higher doses but an increase was observed at lower doses of pesticides. The calculation of EC50 values for different parameters revealed the lowest EC50 values for emamectin (ranged as 51-181 mg/L) followed by alpha-cypermethrin (191.74-374.39), lambda-cyhalothrin (102.43-354.28) and imidacloprid (430.29-1979.66 mg/L). A comparison of the obtained EC50 values for different parameters of tomato with the recommended doses revealed that over application of these pesticides can be harmful to tomato crop. In a few cases these pesticides were found toxic even at the recommended doses. However, a field based study in this regard should be conducted to further verify these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shakirullah Khan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shakir
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Memoona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Waheed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Zia ur Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Shafiq ur Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Daud
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. azizswabi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Azizullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizullah
mesh_terms: D004187:Disaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000633:toxicity; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009570:Nitriles / Q000633:toxicity; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D010154:Pakistan; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D007093:Imidazoles; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009570:Nitriles; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017160:cypermethrin; C082359:imidacloprid; D007559:Ivermectin; C443359:emamectin; C037304:cyhalothrin
keywords: Chlorophyll; Germination; Pesticides; Phytotoxic effects; Plant vigor; Tomato