The effect of fungal extract on some biological activities and molecular aspects of Deroceras reticulatum slugs was investigated. The obtained results indicated that LC50 and LC90 values of Asperagillus sumigatus were 0.0023 and 0.0048 ppm, respectively at 24hrs. Exposing the slugs to the tested sub-lethal concentration (0.001 ppm) of fungal extract four weeks reduced the survival rate, growth rate, hatchability and egg laying capacity of D. reticulatum in comparison with control group. Moreover, marked changes in histological structure of the ovotestis gland of slugs were observed. Electophoretic pattern of nucleic acids in ovotestis gland of treated D. reticulatum revealed that RNA increased gradually than control through the exposure period (4 weeks) while the intensity of intact DNA was decreased.
Key words: Mollusca, Gastropoda, Asperagillus sumigatus, Deroceras reticulatum.
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