Gupta, R.K.Urmila2016-10-242016-10-242016http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/81435Earthworm influences microbial community, physical and chemical properties of soil. They breakdown large soil particles and leaf litter thereby increase the availability of organic matter for microbial degradation and transforms organic wastes into valuable vermicomposts. Earthworms are capable of transforming garbage into ‘gold’. Due to rapid industrialization and excessive use of agrochemicals the amount of heavy metals increases in ecosystem which directly influence the soil organisms especially earthworms. Due to this reason the present study was carried out to investigate the effect of heavy metals on the bio-molecules and immune cells of earthworm. The results showed acute toxicity of two heavy metals viz. Lead and Nickel individually as well as in combination of different concentrations on earthworms in terms of survival rate, growth (length and weight), reproductive efficacy, cocoon production and coelomocytes and it was observed that as the concentration of heavy metals increased, the survival rate, growth, cocoon production and coelomocytes decreased. Maximum reduction in length (4.783 cm) and weight (0.487 g) of earthworm was seen in case of soil treated with Pb-0.06ppm as compared to control where approximate length and weight was 8.660cm and 1.020g respectively. Similar decrease in the population of earthworms was 51.67% and cocoon production was 78.33% respectively in case of Pb-0.06ppm contaminated soil. The impact of heavy metals on carbohydrates, lipid and protein contents was quite significant and the maximum decrease in lipid content (48.98%) followed by carbohydrates (32.05%) and protein (10.39%) in Pb-0.06ppm as compared to control soil. When the cells of coelomic fluid were calculated there was significant decrease in the total number of coelomocytes i.e. 85.01% in earthworms treated with Pb-0.06ppm similarly significant reduction in eleocytes, amoebocytes-I, amoebocytes-II, granulocytes-I and granulocytes- II was seen. The decrease in eleocytes, granulocytes I, granulocytes II, amoebocytes I and amoebocytes II was 78.06, 88.67, 87.11, 86.64 and 85.89% in Pb (0.06ppm). It was concluded that among two heavy metals Lead (Pb) is more toxic individually as well as in combination than Nickel (Ni).enBiological phenomena, Concentrates, Toxicity, Proteins, Animal products, Biological development, carbohydrates, lipids, productivity, cooperationThesis