Characterization of Chlorpyrifos Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Rhizosphere of Oryza sativa L.

Abstract

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide extensively used for pest management since many decades. Due to its persisting nature and ill effects on living organisms, the clean-up of chlorpyrifos from polluted areas has become a major priority. Bioremediation is the preferred approach for this purpose. The study was undertaken to extract bacteria capable of digesting chlorpyrifos employing an enrichment technique. The bacteria were isolated from the soil around the rice-growing areas in Raichur and Koppal districts of Karnataka, India. The isolates were examined and classified based on their physical and chemical characteristics. Efficient isolates were obtained through screening at progressively higher doses of chlorpyrifos. The isolates were examined for plant growth stimulating characteristics, which yielded favorable outcomes. The isolates were analyzed to determine the extent of chlorpyrifos degradation, which showed a maximum degradation rate of 61.3%. The findings of this research indicate that the strains capable of degrading chlorpyrifos have the capability to be a viable option for enhancing agricultural yields in soils polluted with pesticides.