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Bioremediation of glyphosate-contaminated soils

  • Environmental Biotechnology
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Abstract

Based on the results of laboratory and field experiments, we performed a comprehensive assessment of the bioremediation efficiency of glyphosate-contaminated soddy-podzol soil. The selected bacterial strains Achromobacter sp. Kg 16 (VKM B-2534D) and Ochrobactrum anthropi GPK 3 (VKM B-2554D) were used for the aerobic degradation of glyphosate. They demonstrated high viability in soil with the tenfold higher content of glyphosate than the recommended dose for the single in situ treatment of weeds. The strains provided a two- to threefold higher rate of glyphosate degradation as compared to indigenous soil microbial community. Within 1–2 weeks after the strain introduction, the glyphosate content of the treated soil decreased and integral toxicity and phytotoxicity diminished to values of non-contaminated soil. The decrease in the glyphosate content restored soil biological activity, as is evident from a more than twofold increase in the dehydrogenase activity of indigenous soil microorganisms and their biomass (1.2-fold and 1.6-fold for saprotrophic bacteria and fungi, respectively). The glyphosate-degrading strains used in this study are not pathogenic for mammals and do not exhibit integral toxicity and phytotoxicity. Therefore, these strains are suitable for the efficient, ecologically safe, and rapid bioremediation of glyphosate-contaminated soils.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the International Science & Technology Center, project #1892.2, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, project “Development of Scientific Potential of the Higher School” (2.1.1.9227) and Russian Foundation of Basic Research, project # 09-04-00320.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia

    Inna T. Ermakova, Tatyana Shushkova & Alexey A. Leontievsky

  2. Pushchino State University, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia

    Alexey A. Leontievsky

  3. State Federal Enterprise for Science “Research Center for Toxicology and Hygienic Regulation of Biopreparations”, 142253, Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia

    Nina I. Kiseleva, Mikhail Zharikov & Gennady A. Zharikov

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  1. Inna T. Ermakova
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  2. Nina I. Kiseleva
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  3. Tatyana Shushkova
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  4. Mikhail Zharikov
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  5. Gennady A. Zharikov
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  6. Alexey A. Leontievsky
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Correspondence to Inna T. Ermakova.

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Ermakova, I.T., Kiseleva, N.I., Shushkova, T. et al. Bioremediation of glyphosate-contaminated soils. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 88, 585–594 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2775-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2775-0

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