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Biodegradation of the Pesticide Fenamiphos by Ten Different Species of Green Algae and Cyanobacteria

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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.

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    Tanya P. Cáceres, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

  2. Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environments (CRC CARE), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    Tanya P. Cáceres, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

Authors
  1. Tanya P. Cáceres
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  2. Mallavarapu Megharaj
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  3. Ravi Naidu
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Correspondence to Mallavarapu Megharaj.

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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

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9293-7

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