M Pranita and Ch. Sravanthi

The present study was conducted to know the antioxidant enzyme levels in Eisenia fetida. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and Glutathione peroxidase were determined. The SOD, CAT and glutathione peroxidase activities significantly (p< 0.05) increased. This is due to the effect of Cry protein present in Bt cotton. The present results suggest that the elevated levels of anti-oxidant enzymes are in response to the stress and they protect from oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals. Superoxide dismutase activities in the control worm E. fetida were found to be 29.93 units/mg proteins 32.08 in worms from Bt crop field. Catalase activity in the control worm E. fetida were found to be 22.34 units/mg proteins 27.41 worms from Bt crop field. Glutathione peroxidase were found to be 7.8 μmoles of formazan liberated/mg protein/hour mg; and 9.1 μmoles of formazan liberated/mg protein/hour in worms from non Bt and Bt crop fields respectively.

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