Impact of Gyphosate and pendimethalin herbicides on qualitative and quantitative parameters of coelomocytes in earthworm Eisenia fetida

In stress conditions immune defense mechanism is well developed in earthworms which guard them from pathogens in the environment. Coelomocytes are the immune cells of the earthworms and maintain the innate immune system of these lower animals. Extensive use of herbicides decreases the coelomocytes number. An experiment was performed to test the effect of glyphosate and pendimethalin herbicides on coelomocytes of Eisenia fetida. The results revealed that these herbicides had interfered with the immunity of worms and there was significant decrease in the total number and types of coelomocytes. As compared with control, maximum reduction in total number of coelomocytes (11.9× 104) was recorded in worms exposed to highest combined dose of glyphosate and pendimethalin @1.50+2.50 µl/kg, followed by (15.1×104) and (24.6×104) coelomocytes in pendimethalin @ 3.00 µl/kg and glyphosate 5.00 µl/kg, respectively.