Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Native Bacillus Spp. Capable of Degrading Endosulfan |

ABSTRACT:

The ability of soil bacteria to utilize pesticideendosulfan as the sole carbon and energy source was investigated in thispresent research. Four bacterial strains were isolated with enrichmenttechnique from the soil from natural habitats i.e. from the fields with aconfirmed history of pesticide usage. The isolated bacterial colonies weresubjected for the identification based on cultural and biochemicalcharacterization. All the isolated bacteria were subjected for the tolerancelimit test with the variable concentrations of endosulfan in vitro. Theresistant strain to the high concentration of the pesticide was selected forfurther analysis. Based gram staining, biochemical tests and with specificmedia their morphological characters, this new bacterial isolate was identifiedas Bacillus spp. Thebiodegradation experiments were performed in high (100 ppm) concentration ofendosulfan for 21 days. Bacillus spp.was able to efficiently degrade the persistant organic pollutant, endosulfan.At the end the degradation percentage was observed to be 87.00 % and, 79.60 %of endosulfan alpha and beta isomers, respectively. The results indicate thatnative strains have great potential for in situ remediation ofpesticide-contaminated soils in highly pesticide polluted sites.