ENHANCED BIODEGRADATION OF ENDOSULFAN AND ITS METABOLITE-ENDOSULFATE BY A BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCING BACTERIUM

摘要

Endosulfan is a broad spectrum contact insecticide and acaricide registered for use on a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, cereal grains, and cotton, as well as ornamental shrubs, trees, vines, and ornamentals in agriculture. This insecticide is one of the widely used and most problematic insecticides used in India. Its low water solubility of 0.03 mg/L had resulted in persistence of endosulfan residues in Indian soil. The present study aims to enhance the bioavailability of this pesticide and its metabolites for bacterial degradation.