Abstract
A mixed enrichment culture of microorganisms capable of accelerated mineralization of atrazine was isolated from soil treated with successive applications of the herbicide. Liquid cultures of this consortium, in the presence of simple carbon sources, mineralized 96% of the applied atrazine (0.56 mM) within 7 days. Atrazine mineralization in culture is initiated with the formation of the metabolite hydroxyatrazine. In soil treated with atrazine at a concentration of 0.14 mM (concentration is based on total soil mass), and then inoculated with the microbial consortium, the parent compound was completely transformed in 25 days. After 30 days of incubation, 60% of the applied atrazine was accounted for as14CO2. As was found with the liquid cultures, hydroxyatrazine was the major metabolite. After 145 days, soil extractable hydroxyatrazine declined to zero and 86% of the applied atrazine was accounted for as14CO2. No metabolites, other than hydroxyatrazine, were recovered from either the liquid culture or soil inoculated with the consortium. The use of the mixed microbial culture enhanced mineralization more than 20 fold as compared to uninoculated soil.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.
Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.
References
Armstrong DE, Chesters C & Harris RF (1967) Atrazine hydrolysis in soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 31: 61–66
Behki RM & Kahn SU (1986) Degradation of atrazine byPseudomonas: N-Dealkylation and dehalogenation of atrazine and its metabolites. J. Agric. Food Chem. 34: 746–749
Bollag JM (1982) Microbial metabolism of pesticides. In: Rosazza JP (Ed), Microbial Transformations of Bioactive Compounds (pp 126–168). CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton
Brunner W & Focht DD (1984) Deterministic three-half-order kinetic model for microbial degradation of added carbon substrates in soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 47: 197–172
Clay SA & WC Koskinen (1990) Adsorption and desorption of atrazine, hydroxyatrazine, and s-glutathione atrazine on two soils. Weed Sci. 38: 262–266
Cook AM & Hütter R (1984) Deethylsimazine: Bacterial dehalogenation, deamination, and complete degradation. J. Agric. Food Chem. 32: 581–585
Giardina MC, Giardi MT & Fialacchioni G (1980) 4-amino-2-chloro-1,3,5-triazine: A new metabolite of atrazine by a soil bacterium. Agric. Biol. Chem. 44: 2067–2072
Giardina MC, Giardi MT & Fialacchioni G (1985) Chemical and biological degradation of primary metabolites of atrazine by aNocardia strain. Agric. Biol. Chem. 44: 1551–1558
Habecker MA (1989) Environmental contamination at Wisconsin pesticide mixing/loading facilities: Case study, investigation and remedial action evaluation. Wisc. Dept. Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Prot., Ag. Res. Mgmt. Rpt. (pp 1–80)
Jessee JA, Valerias C, Benoit RE, Hendricks AC & McNair H (1981) Determination of cyanuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr. 207: 454–456
Kaufman DD & Blake J (1970) Degradation of atrazine by soil fungi. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2: 73–80
Kaufman DD & Kearney PC (1970) Microbial degradation of triazine herbicides. Residue Rev. 32: 235–265
Klages U, Marcus A & Lingens F (1981) Degradation of 4-chlorophenolic acid by aPseudomonas species. J. Bacteriol. 146: 64–68
Long T (1987) Groundwater contamination in the vicinity of agrichemical mixing and loading facilities. Proceedings of the 16th ENR Annual Conference, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
Moorman TB & Harper SS (1989) Transformation and mineralization of metribuzin in surface and subsurface horizons of a Mississippi delta soil. J. Environ. Qual. 18: 302–306
Russell JD, Cruz M, White JL, Baily W, Payne WR Jr, Pope JD Jr & Teasley JI (1968) Mode of chemical degradation of s-triazines by montmorillonite. Science 160: 1340–1342
Schocken MJ & Speedie MK (1984) Physiological aspects of atrazine degradation by higher marine fungi. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 13: 707–714
Skipper HD & Volk VV (1972) Biological and chemical degradation of atrazine in three Origon soils. Weed Sci. 20: 344–347
Winkelmann DA & Klaine SJ (1991) Degradation and bound residue formation of atrazine. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 10: 335–345
Wolf DC & Martin JP (1975) Microbial decomposition of ring-14C-atrazine, cyanuric acid, and 2-chloro-4,6-diamino-s-triazine. J. Environ. Qual. 4: 134–139
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Assaf, N.A., Turco, R.F. Accelerated biodegradation of atrazine by a microbial consortium is possible in culture and soil. Biodegradation 5, 29–35 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00695211
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00695211