A comparative study of rac- and S-metolachlor on some activities and metabolism of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The racemic product of metolachlor contains two R-enantiomers and two S-enantiomers. S-Metolachlor is a more effective herbicidal agent than rac-metolachlor; currently, it is widely used instead of rac-metolachlor. The comparative toxicity of rac- and S-metolachlor was assessed on the basis of their effects on some enzyme activities of the fifth instar of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. These results suggest that rac-metolachlor and S-metolachlor have different effects on enzyme activities of fifth-instar silkworm larvae. Hemolymph lactate dehydrogenase and catalase activity levels in silkworms treated with rac-metolachlor were much lower than those in silkworms treated with S-metolachlor. Control hemolymph ACP activity was 44–73% higher than that of rac-metolachlor-treated hemolymph, but the difference was not large between S-metolachlor treatment and the control. Midgut alkaline phosphatase activity of silkworms treated with rac-metolachlor was 46% lower than control activity, and the effect of S-metolachlor on midgut alkaline phosphatase activity was minor. The difference between the two herbicides was apparent mainly during the first 5 days of the fifth instar, and then gradually disappeared. It is shown that compared with S-metolachlor, rac-metolachlor is more toxic to economically important silkworms because of its effects on some enzymes and on metabolism.