TY - JOUR
T1 - The toxicity of the fungicide Propiconazole to soil flagellates
AU - Ekelund, Flemming
AU - Westergaard, Kamma
AU - Søe, Dorthe
N1 - Key words Pesticide - Protozoa - Fungivorous flagellates - Propiconazole - r/K ratio
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - We investigated the effects of the ergosterol-inhibiting fungicide, propiconazole {1-[[2-(2,4-dichlorphenyl) - 4 - propyl - 1,3 - dioxolan - 2 - yl]methyl] - 1H - 1,2,4 triazole; Tilt}, on mixed natural populations of bacterivorous and fungivorous flagellates in soil and on single species of bacterivorous flagellates in liquid culture. The fungicide affected a mixed natural population of fungivorous flagellates less than the population of bacterivorous flagellates. Our results indicated that the effects of propiconazole on flagellates are direct toxic effects and not effects mediated via their food. All tested types of flagellates were significantly harmed when exposed to the concentration of propiconazole normally applied to agricultural fields (625¿mg l-1). However, when exposed to the concentration of propiconazole which we expect in the soil water phase after application (ca. 0.6¿mg l-1) the effect on most of the tested flagellates was slight. Still, one tested flagellate species, Dimastigella trypaniformis, was extremely sensitive to the compound, and it is possible that field application of propiconazole has negative effects on certain sensitive species, and therefore alters the composition of the soil flagellate community in the direction of a higher r/K ratio.
AB - We investigated the effects of the ergosterol-inhibiting fungicide, propiconazole {1-[[2-(2,4-dichlorphenyl) - 4 - propyl - 1,3 - dioxolan - 2 - yl]methyl] - 1H - 1,2,4 triazole; Tilt}, on mixed natural populations of bacterivorous and fungivorous flagellates in soil and on single species of bacterivorous flagellates in liquid culture. The fungicide affected a mixed natural population of fungivorous flagellates less than the population of bacterivorous flagellates. Our results indicated that the effects of propiconazole on flagellates are direct toxic effects and not effects mediated via their food. All tested types of flagellates were significantly harmed when exposed to the concentration of propiconazole normally applied to agricultural fields (625¿mg l-1). However, when exposed to the concentration of propiconazole which we expect in the soil water phase after application (ca. 0.6¿mg l-1) the effect on most of the tested flagellates was slight. Still, one tested flagellate species, Dimastigella trypaniformis, was extremely sensitive to the compound, and it is possible that field application of propiconazole has negative effects on certain sensitive species, and therefore alters the composition of the soil flagellate community in the direction of a higher r/K ratio.
U2 - 10.1007/s003740050626
DO - 10.1007/s003740050626
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0178-2762
VL - 31
SP - 70
EP - 77
JO - Biology and Fertility of Soils
JF - Biology and Fertility of Soils
IS - 1
ER -