Genotoxic Effects of Rice-Agrochemicals on Channa punctatus (Bloch) and Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) Using Micronucleus Assay and Alkaline Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis

Rice-cum-fish culture is a cost-effective practice for marginal farmers but the major constraint is the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals. Present work was designed to assess the genotoxic effects of rice agrochemicals in Channa punctatus (Experiment 1 CP1 to CP3) and Cyprinus carpio (Experiment 2 CC1 to CC3); using micronucleus, chromosome aberration, and single cell gel electrophoresis/Comet assay. Two experiments with three treatments (CP1/CC1: without pesticide; CP2/CC2: recommended doses; CP3/CC3: farmers’ dose) were maintained in triplicates. The presence of tail DNA and micronuclei depicted significant DNA damage (P<0.05) in all the treated fish. The mean percent frequency of MN showed significant (P<0.05) differences with respect to the initial. The chromosomal aberrations and mean frequencies of tail DNA (%) were significantly abundant in CP3 and CC3 indicating high a genotoxic effect. Keeping in view the low genotoxic effects, treatment of CP2 and CC2 with recommended doses of pesticides may be disseminated to farmers.