Impact of pesticides applications on the growth and function of cyanobacteria

Abstract

Recently from last few decades, indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides not only affects the texture and productivity of soil but also affects the environment, health-related issues, and the nontarget microorganism. In the paddy field ecosystem, cyanobacteria are the integral part, which actively involved in maintaining nutrient availability, soil fertility, yield enhancement via biological nitrogen fixation, mineralizing activity, etc. But the continuous and higher dose application of pesticides (either insecticides or herbicides) in the paddy fields leads to a toxic or inhibitory impact on the growth and physiology of native cyanobacterial species. In general, lower concentrations of insecticides or herbicides have a stimulatory effect on the various cyanobacterial species and enhance the growth, nitrogen fixation activity, photosynthetic pigments, whereas higher doses lead to even death of the microorganisms. Therefore in this chapter, we tried to summarize the ecotoxicological impact of pesticides on the growth and function of native cyanobacterial species in the paddy field ecosystem. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.