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A rapid method to screen degradation ability in chlorophenoxyalkanoic acid herbicide‐degrading bacteria
Author(s) -
Smejkal C.W.,
Vallaeys T.,
Burton S.K.,
LappinScott H.M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2001.00900.x
Subject(s) - bacteria , degradation (telecommunications) , microbiology and biotechnology , biodegradation , biology , chemistry , ecology , computer science , genetics , telecommunications
Aims: An agar medium containing a range of related chlorophenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D), 2‐methyl‐4‐chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), racemic mecoprop, ( R )‐mecoprop and racemic 2,4‐DP (2‐(2,4‐dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid) was developed to assess the catabolic activity of a range of degradative strains. Methods and Results: The medium was previously developed containing 2,4‐D as a carbon source to visualise degradation by the production of dark violet bacterial colonies. Strains isolated on mecoprop were able to degrade 2,4‐D, MCPA, racemic mecoprop, ( R )‐mecoprop and racemic 2,4‐DP, whereas the 2,4‐D‐enriched strains were limited to 2,4‐D and MCPA as carbon sources. Sphingomonas sp. TFD44 solely degraded the dichlorinated compounds, 2,4‐D, racemic 2,4‐DP and 2,4‐DB (2,4‐dichlorophenoxybutyric acid). However, Sphingomonas sp. AW5, originally isolated on 2,4,5‐T, was the only strain to degrade the phenoxybutyric compound MCPB (4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxybutyric acid). Conclusions: This medium has proved to be a very effective and rapid method for screening herbicide degradation by bacterial strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: This method reduces the problem of assessing the biodegradability of this family of compounds to an achievable level.