Genotoxic effects of some agricultural pesticides in vitro tested with Aspergillus nidulans

Ten agricultural pesticides and organophosphorus insecticides were tested for the induction of three different genetic events, mitotic gene-conversion, mitotic crossing-over and mitotic non-disjunction: Curzate, Enovit, Folcidin, Fongarid, Ronilan, Cyanamide, Gardona, Gusathion, Nuvacron and Supracid. Tests were performed in vitro with and without mouse liver microsomal activation, using two different somatic diploids of Aspergillus nidulans. The induction of the genetic events was detected with selective procedures; as pesticides may cause a variety of genetic alterations, it seemed important to determine the induction of several genetic end points in this investigation. Results are reported and discussed with particular reference to the behaviour of organophosphorus insecticides when tested with eucaryotic protist cells which are not sensitive to these compounds.