Biological effects of a copper-based fungicide on the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The increased consumption of pesticides can have a negative environmental impact by increasing the essential metals to toxic levels. Bordasul® is a commonly used fungicide in Brazil and it is composed of 20% Cu, 10% sulfur, and 3.0% calcium. The study of fungicides in vivo in non-target model organisms can predict their environmental impact more broadly. The Drosophila melanogaster is a unique model due to its ease of handling and maintenance. Here, the potential toxicity of Bordasul® was investigated by assessing the development, survival, and behavior of exposed flies. Exposure to Bordasul® impaired the development (p < 0.01) and caused a significant reduction in memory retention (p < 0.05) and locomotor ability (p < 0.001). Fungicides are needed to assure the world’s food demand; however, Bordasul® was highly toxic to D. melanogaster. Therefore, Bordasul® may be potentially toxic to non-target invertebrates and new environmentally-safe biofertilizers have to be developed to preserve the biota.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Pesticides
• environment
• toxicity
• behavior
• memory

Authors’ contributions

Rieder, G.S: Conceptualization, investigation, methodology, data analysis, writing and editing. Zamberlan, D.C: Conceptualization, investigation, methodology, data analysis, writing and editing. Aschner, M: Writing-Review and Editing. Silva, L.F.O: Writing-Review. da Rocha, J.B.T: Writing-Review, Editing and Supervision.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

Data are available on request from the authors.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [J.B.T.R], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria and Universidad de la Costa. This work was supported by the Brazilian research funding agencies: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brasil, CAPES-PROEX (23038.004173/2019-93;0493/2019;88882.182126/2018-01), FINEP (CTINFRA), FAPERGS-CAPES (DOCFIX- 33581.466.15808.03042018), FAPERGS-CNPQ (12/2014) PRONEX (16/255100044994), CNPQ (INCT 465671/20144). MA was funded in part by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) R01ES10563.