Biodegradation of insecticide carbofuran by Paracoccus sp. YM3

Abstract

A bacterium (Paracoccus sp. YM3) capable of degrading carbofuran was isolated from carbofuran-contaminated sludge. The strain was shown to metabolize carbofuran (50 mg L⁻¹) to carbofuran-7-phenol in minimal salt medium within 6 days in which the pesticide was the only source of carbon. Carbofuran and its main metabolite were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The addition of an other carbon source led to accelerated biodegradation. The relevant degrading-enzyme was intracellular and inducible. A tobacco hypersensitivity experiment showed that YM3 could eliminate carbofuran in soils effectively and safely. This is the first report of a Paracoccus sp. that could degrade carbofuran. The present study may provide a basis for biotreatment of wastewaters and bioremediation of carbofuran-contaminated soils.

Keywords:

• Biodegradation
• carbofuran
• carbamate pesticide
• Paracoccus sp. YM3
• pathogenicity

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Hi-tech Research and Development Program of China (No. 2006AA10Z401). We are indebted to Yongxin Nie (College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University) for providing facilities and helping with HPLC.