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Malathion Degradation by an Arthrobacter Species
Author(s) -
Walker W. W.,
Stojanovic B. J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1974.00472425000300010002x
Subject(s) - malathion , chemistry , bacteria , metabolite , biodegradation , pesticide , arthrobacter , potassium , chromatography , environmental chemistry , microbial biodegradation , degradation (telecommunications) , microorganism , organic chemistry , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , agronomy , telecommunications , genetics , computer science
The dissipation of malathion from agricultural soils has been shown to involve both chemical and biological mechanisms, with biodegradation being of substantial magnitude. This investigation was conducted to (i) isolate from soil by enrichment techniques bacterium or several bacteria capable of readily metabolizing malathion, and (ii) isolate and identify the malathion metabolites resulting from this microbial degradation. Of 18 soil bacteria examined, 5 were capable of utilizing the malathion molecule with degradation of added insecticide ranging from 47 to 95%. The most efficient malathion utilizer, an Arthrobacter species, degraded malathion to malathion half‐ester, malathion dicarboxylic acid, potassium dimethyl phosphorothioate, potassium dimethyl phosphorodithioate, and one other unidentified metabolite. O ‐desmethyl malathion, potassium salt, was also produced, but the mechanism involved was nonbiological in nature. Malathion dissipation was monitored by electron‐capture gas‐liquid chromatography, and metabolites were identified by thin‐layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy.