Effect of pesticides DDT, Dimethoate and Sevin on the growth of marine diatom Coscinodiscus concinnus in culture

Abstract

The effect of low concentrations (viz. 1, 5, 10 20, 40 and 50 ppb) of p-p' DDT (organochlorine), Dimethoate (organophosphorus) and Sevin (Carbamate) on growth and cell multiplication of the marine diatom Coscinodiscus concinnus was studied. The toxic effect was in the order of p-p' DDT Dimethoate Sevin. The growth rate of diatom was 36% in DDT, 46% in Dimethoate and 54% in Sevin at 50 ppb concentration as compared to that of control and acetone treated cultures. Morphological variations like disruption of cell wall and disassemblage of chloroplast were observed in the cultures treated with 50 ppb concentration of p-p' DDT and Dimethoate