Environmental impact tests with vertebrate and

invertebrate organisms
What is Environmental Impact Test/Assessment?

 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a

process of evaluating the likely environmental
impacts of a proposed project or development,
taking into account inter-related socio-
economic, cultural and human-health impacts,
both beneficial and adverse.

https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1
 To obtain safe quality criteria for biological control
agents, many tests have been developed.

 The aim of these studies was to determine the
potentiality of Pochonia chlamydosporia and
Purpureocillium lilacinum to produce toxicity,
infectivity or other organ/tissue damage in
vertebrate and invertebrate organisms.
The nematophagous fungi Pochonia
chlamydosporia and Purpureocillium lilacinum has been
researched as a potential biocontrol agent for being
used in integrated pest management strategy for
 Meloidogyne incognita.
Test for Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata and
Purpureocillium lilacinum

Many workers have studied various aspects

of the toxicity and ecotoxicity of this strain including
vertebrate tests with rats and rabbits and
invertebrates using earthworms, bees, predaceous
 insects and non-target beneficial plants .
 No toxic,
 irritant, pathogenic and infective effects were detected
 safety has been suggested in the use of this fungus.


Rev. Salud Anim. Vol. 31 No. 1 (2009): 40-45

Acute and toxicity/pathogenicity
 studies were performed by oral route in quails for Pochonia
chlamydosporia.
 A maximum dose level of 6x106
 units of the microbial pest control
 agent per bird treated was used.
 Mortality or clinical signs were not observed and no effects
on body
 weight, haematology, microbiology and gross or
microscopic pathology were detected.

Thus clinical,
microbiological and pathological results provided evidence for
the safety properties of this fungusRev.
inSalud Anim. Vol. 31 No. 1 (2009): 40-45
To test the effect of fungal bionematicides on termites,
saprophytes, honey bees and
 earthworms are the main objectives in the environmental
impact test as they play a major role in soil.

i.Talc based formulation of P. lilacinum.

ii. Talc based formulation of P. chlamydosporia.
iii. Soil collected from termite mount.
iv. Soil sample collected from organic matter rich soil
v. Vermicompost along with earthworms.
vi. Honeycomb.
Thank you