V.V. CHOUGALE AND A. M. DESHMUKH
Abstract
Carbofuran is commonly used as a pesticide in a advanced agricultural practices. Pesticides are polluting agents persist for long time in soil. In saline soils microbial activities are reduced hence biodegradation is also reduced. 319 actinomycete isolates were obtained from saline soils. They were tested for resistance to carbofuran pesticide at 20 pg/rnL concentration. It was found that seven actinomycetal isolates were able to resist the pesticide and show growth. These seven actinomycetal isolates were identified up to species level. They were identified as Streptomyces alanositicus, S. atratus, Strptoverticillium album, Nocardia farcinica, N. vaccini, N. amarae & Micromonospom chalcea. These actinomyctes were further tested for biodegradation of carbofuran pestcide by cometabolism and as a sole carbon source. The residual carbofuran in the growth medium after incubation was determined by GC. It was found that S. alanositicus was most active degrading 65.55% &r. 95.35% by cometabolism and as a sole carbon source respectively. This salt tolerant actinomycete can be exploited further for pesticide degradation in saline soil.