Anaerobic microbial degradation of the herbicide propanil

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry 1985, Vol.17 (6), p.815-818
• Main Authors: Pettigrew, Charles A., Paynter, M.J.B., Camper, N.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; anaerobic conditions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; herbicide residues; Microbial ecology; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; propanil; Soil; soil analysis; Soil science
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-0717(85)90139-7

The fate of propanil (3,4-dichloropropionanilide) in an anaerobic soil environment was studied. Two mineral salts media, one amended with 0.05% yeast extract and 0.05% tryptone, and both with 33 μg propanil ml −1, were inoculated with 10% (v/v) soil to establish enrichment cultures. Cultures were incubated at 30°C under an atmosphere of 95% N 2 and 5% CO 2. There was a complete loss of propanil in 15 days in soil enrichment cultures. One degradation product was detected and identified by HPLC and TLC co-chromatography as 3,4-dichloroaniline. Propanil was also degraded in a soil-free medium containing 0.05% yeast extract and 0.05% tryptone and inoculated with supernatant from a soil enrichment culture. After 100 days, propanil concentration decreased by 81%; 3,4-dichloroaniline and meta-chloroaniline were produced. No decrease in propanil concentration was detected in soil-free cultures without yeast extract and tryptone. No labeled CO 2 or volatile products were detected after 80 days in soil-free enrichment cultures containing 14C-ring-labeled propanil.