Isolation and characterization of endosulfan-degrading bacteria from contaminated agriculture soils

Objective:To isolate and characterize endosulfan-degrading bacteria from Kerman pistachio orchards.Methods:Endosulfan-degrading bacteria were enriched in Bushnell-Hass medium.Identification and sequencing of prevalent degrading strains was performed by using PCR based on amplifying 16S rDNA.Results:The results showed that the soils of pistachio orchards have some degrading bacteria that are suitable for elimination of endosulfan from soils and the environment.Four endosulfandegrading bacteria strains belong to Achromobacter xylosoxidans(strain EN3),Pseudomonas azotoformans(strain EN4),Pseudomonas brassicacearum(strain EN7)and Pseudomonas thivervalensis(strain EN8),respectively.The best degrading strain(EN7),up to 100 mg/L,illustrated a good growth,whereas the growth was reduced in concentration higher than 100 mg/L.The results of gas chromatography confirmed the decomposition of organic pesticide by degrading-bacteria.Conclusions:By using these strains and other biological reclamation methods we can eliminate bio-environmental problems.