Metabolism of metolachlor by fungal cultures.
Metabolism of metolachlor was studied using a mixed fungal culture isolated from a metolachlor-acclimated field soil. The culture rapidly degraded metolachlor with a half-life of 3.5 days in broth. Aspergillus flavus and A. terricola purified from the mixed culture also metabolized metolachlor effectively. Five metabolites obtained were identified by co-chromatography on HPLC by comparing with authentic standards and by GC-MS. Hydrolytic dechlorination, N-dealkylation, and amide bond cleavage appeared to be the dominant transformations involved in the metabolism. Metabolites, 6-methyl 2-ethyl acetanilide and 6-methyl 2-ethyl aniline, identified in this study are new metabolites of metolachlor being reported from any mixed or pure microbial cultures. The mixed culture could degrade 99% of metolachlor at a fortification level as high as 100 microg mL(-)(1).
Sanyal
D
D
Analytical Division, Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology, Sector 20, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon 122016, India.
Kulshrestha
G
G
D000081:Acetamides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006207:Half-Life; D006540:Herbicides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics
D000081:Acetamides; D006540:Herbicides; C051786:metolachlor