Indication for weak mutagenicity of the organophosphorus insecticide dimethoate in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT

The organophosphorus insecticide dimethoate was tested for induction of genetic damage in male germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Sex-linked recessive lethals, sex-chromosome loss and non-disjunction induction were studied following different routes of administration adult feeding, injection and larval feeding. Our results show that, after injection, dimethoate induces a slight but significant increase in the frequency of point mutations.