Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
1986
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Biology and Microbiology
First Advisor
Kennedy Gauger
Abstract
The production and use of synthetic chemicals for pesticide control increased dramatically after World War II. They were found to be highly effective, cheap to produce and easy to apply. Development of these chemicals has been one of the major developments for agriculture. In the 1970's public health risks and environmental damage caused by agricultural chemicals was recognized. Problems of chronic exposure, improper waste disposal and environmental damage developed which led to the federal government regulating their use and manufacture. Pesticide manufacturers have a variety of physical and chemical disposal methods for pesticide wastes. Disposal or detoxification methods for pesticides that have become environmental pollutants through spills or accumulation in high use areas are limited or nonexistent. There is a potential for biodegradation to help decontaminate these environmental pollutants, since the degradation of organic compounds in the environment is predominantly microbiologically mediated. Further research on microbial metabolism of xenobiotics and their ability to degrade these compounds under different growth conditions is needed. Four objectives for this thesis research were to: 1. Screen laboratory field isolates for their capability to degrade the pesticides alachlor, carbofuran, and dicamba. 2a. Take key isolates obtained from objective 1 and determine in vitro broth degradation in three types of culture media. 2b. With these same isolates determine their in vitro soil slurry degradation capability. 3. Determine alachlor degradation by eight isolates obtained from an agricultural chemical spill. 4. Determine if any observed pesticide degradation was mediated by plasmid or chromosomal DNA.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Pesticides -- Biodegradation
Soil degradation
Soils -- Pesticide content
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
129
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
No Copyright - United State
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Recommended Citation
Adrian, Neal R., "Enrichment, Isolation and Characterization of Alachlor, Carbofuran, and Dicamba-degrading Bacteria Obtained from Soil" (1986). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4342.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/4342