SELECTIVE ISOLATION OF A GRAM NEGATIVE CARBAMATE PESTICIDE DEGRADING BACTERIUM FROM BRINJAL CULTIVATED SOIL

A bacterial species having the ability to grow in the presence of carbosulfan pesticide “Marshall” was isolated from Solanum melongena (brinjal) cultivated soil in Khulna region, Bangladeh, having a history of pesticide usage. The strain was morphologically and biochemically identified to belong to the genera Pseudomonas. A comparative study of growth of this strain with other isolated bacteria showed its ability to grow in the presence of different concentrations of Marshall. The susceptibility of the stain to Marshall was also assessed through disk diffusion assay which showed the strain to be resistant at concentrations of Marshal commonly used under field conditions. The selected strain also showed its capability to degrade Marshall through observed characteristics on sublimated agar plates. The biodegradation capability of the strain isolated in this study can be valuable for further study towards bioremediation of pesticide contaminated soils.