Effect of microplastics on growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida
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Date
2021
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Plastics are versatile, hygienic, light weight and highly durable product. Microplastics are
ubiquitous in nature. The microplastics reach soils via routes viz. sewage sludge, agricultural
mulching, through plastic waste etc.The current study investigated the effect of microplastics
on growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida. The earthworms were exposed to microplastics
for a period of 28 days. There were six treatments considered for the present study viz. T1
(1g/kg dry wt), T2 (5g/kg dry wt), T3 (10 g/kg), T4 (15 g/kg), T5 (g/kg dry wt). Following
exposure change in body weight, effect on cocoon number, change in hatchling no, change in
the activity of glutathione-S-transferase, DNA damage through comet assay was observed. In
addition effect on the microflora composition of gut of earthworm was also observed. The
results indicated dose dependent effect on body weight. The weight decreased as the dose of
the microplastics increased. There was no significant change observed in cocoon and
hatchling number. The GST activity was found to increase initially at higher dose. But with
further increase in the dose GST activity decreased significantly. The DNA damage was
found showed a dose dependent effect. There was no effect reported on the microflora in the
gut of the earthworm. The results indicate that microplastics have a dose dependent effect on
body weight of earthworms. It is inferred that microplastics have no effect on the
reproduction of the earthworm at the selected concentrations.
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Citation
Raminderdeep Kaur (2021). Effect of microplastics on growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.