Abstract
The degradation of an organophosphorus pesticide, fenamiphos, by different species of five green algae and five cyanobacteria was studied. All the species tested were able to transform fenamiphos to its primary oxidation product, fenamiphos sulfoxide (FSO), while the majority of these cultures were able to hydrolyze FSO to fenamiphos sulfoxide phenol (FSOP). Fenamiphos sulfone phenol, FSOP, and FSO were detected in the culture extracts of these algae and cyanobacteria. This is the first report on the biodegradation of a toxic pesticide, fenamiphos, by cyanobacteria. The ability of these algae and cyanobacteria to detoxify fenamiphos can be gainfully used in bioremediation of this pesticide and its toxic metabolites.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (2002) Pesticide use in Australia. Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Victoria
Cáceres T, Ying GG, Kookana R (2002) Sorption of pesticides in banana production on soils of Ecuador. Aust J Soil Res 40:1085–1094
Cáceres T, Megharaj M, Naidu R (2007) Toxicity of fenamiphos and its metabolites to the Cladoceran Daphnia carinata: the influence of microbial degradation in natural waters. Chemosphere 66:1264–1269
Cáceres T, Megharaj M, Naidu R (2008) Degradation of fenamiphos in soils collected from different geographical regions: the influence of soil properties and climatic conditions. J Environ Sci Health B43:314–322
Cáceres T, Megharaj M, Naidu R (2008) Toxicity and transformation of fenamiphos and its metabolites by two micro algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chlorococcum sp. Sci Total Environ 398:53–59
El-Bestawy EA, Ab El-Salam AL, Mansy AER (2007) Potencial use of environmental cyanobacterial species in bioremediation of lindane-contaminated effluents. Int Biodet Biodeg 59:180–192
Franzmann P, Zappia L, Tilbury A, Patterson B, Davis G, Mandelbaum T (2000) Bioaugmentation of atrazine and fenamiphos impacted groundwater: laboratory evaluation. Biorem J 4:237–248
Kiely T (1999) Organophosphate pesticide information: quantitative usage analysis for fenamiphos. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/fenamiphos/fenause.htm
Kookana R, Phang C, Aylmore AG (1997) Transformation and degradation of fenamiphos nematicide and its metabolites in soils. Aust J Soil Res 35:753–762
Kuritz T, Wolk P (1995) Use of filamentous cyanobacteria for biodegradation of organic pollutants. Appl Environ Microbiol 1995:234–238
Megharaj M, Venkateswarlu K, Rao AS (1987) Metabolism of monocrotophos and quinalphos by algae isolated from soil. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 39:251–256
Megharaj M, Madhavi DR, Sreenivasulu C, Umamaheswari A, Venkateswarlu K (1994) Biodegradation of methyl parathion by soil isolates of microalgae and cyanobacteria. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 53:292–297
Megharaj M, Singleton I, Kookana R, Naidu R (1999) Persistence and effects of fenamiphos on native algal populations and enzymatic activities in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 31:1549–1553
Megharaj M, Kantachote D, Singleton I, Naidu R (2000) Effects of long-term contamination of DDT on soil microflora with special reference to soil algae and algal metabolism of DDT. Environ Pollut 109:35–42
Megharaj M, Singleton I, McClure NC, Naidu R (2000) Influence of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination on microalgae and microbial activities in a long-term contaminated soil. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38:439–445
Megharaj M, Singh N, Kookana R, Naidu R (2003) Hydrolysis of fenamiphos and its oxidation products by a soil bacterium in pure culture, soil and water. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 61:252–256
Ou LT (1991) Interactions of micro-organisms and soil during fenamiphos degradation. Soil Sci Soc Am J 55:716–722
Ou LT, Thomas JE, Dickson DW (1994) Degradation of fenamiphos in soil with a history of continuous fenamiphos applications. Soil Sci Soc Am J 58:1139–1147
Patrick G, Chiri A, Randall D, Libelo L, Jones J (2001) Fenamiphos environmental risk assessment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/fenamiphos/env_risk.pdf
Sethunathan N, Megharaj M, Chen ZL, Williams BD, Lewis G, Naidu R (2004) Algal degradation of an endocrine disrupting insecticide α-endosulfan and its metabolite, endosulfan sulfate, in liquid medium and soil. J Agr Food Chem 52:3030–3035
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Australian Government and University of South Australia through an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) in collaboration with CRC CARE. We wish to thank Dr Z. Chen for laboratory support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cáceres, T.P., Megharaj, M. & Naidu, R. Biodegradation of the Pesticide Fenamiphos by Ten Different Species of Green Algae and Cyanobacteria. Curr Microbiol 57, 643–646 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9293-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9293-7