Biodegradation of Endosulfan by Bacteria Isolated from Soil

In the present study an attempt has been made to enrich and isolate bacterial species capable of degrading endosulfan isomers from different soil habitats. The two potent isolates showed about 51% endosulfan degradation during first eight days of incubation. However, the degradation reached between 63-82% after 16 days of incubation. Further, the degradation of the insecticide increased concomitantly with the growth of the bacteria at pH 8.0 and at 30°C. The results suggest that these novel strains could be used as potent agents for biodegradation of endosulfan pesticides.