Skip to main content
Log in

Utilization and degradation of lindane by soil microorganisms

  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Of 147 microorganisms isolated from a loamy sand, 71 showed good growth with lindane (γ-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane) and produced chloride in an aqueous medium. Thirteen soil microorganisms were selected to study the utilization of lindane. Lindane was metabolized by the microbes to γ-2,3,4,5,6-pentachloro-1-cyclohexene (γ-PCCH), α-3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene (α-TCCH), β-3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene (β-TCCH), γ-3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene (γ-TCCH), and pentachlorobenzene (PCB). Cells of Pseudomonas sp. No. 62 grown on lindane simultaneously adapted to γ-PCCH, α-TCCH, β-TCCH, γ-TCCH, PCB, 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,3,4-TCB) and 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,4,5-TCB). The bacteria degraded each of these chemicals at least partially as indicated by an increased rate of oxygen consumption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Lindane:

γ-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane

γ-PCCH:

γ-2,3,4,5,6-pentachloro-1-cyclohexene

α-TCCH:

α-3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene

β-TCCH:

β-3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene

γ-TCCH:

γ-3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene

PCB:

pentachlorobenzene

1,2,3,4-TCB:

1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene

1,2,3,5-TCB:

1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene

1,2,4,5-TCB:

1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene

1,2,3-tCB:

1,2,3-trichlorobenzene

1,2,4-tCB:

1,2,4-trichlorobenzene

1,3,5-tCB:

1,3,5-trichlorobenzene

1,2-DCB:

1,2-dichlorobenzene

1,3-DCB:

1,3-dichlorobenzene

1,4-DCB:

1,4-dichlorobenzene

MCB:

monochlorobenzene

References

  • Alexander, M.: Biodegradation: Problems of molecular recalcitrance and microbial fallibility. Advanc. appl. Microbiol. 7, 35–80 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Benezet, H., Matsumura, F.: Isomerization of γ-BHC to α-BHC in the environment. Nature (Lond.) 243, 480–481 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann, J. G., Sanik, J., Jr.: Determination of trace amounts of chlorine in naphtha. Analyt. Chem. 29, 241–243 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Breed, R. S., Murray, E. G. D., Smith, N. R.: Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology, 7th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins 1957

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, C. A.: Insecticides. In: Organic chemical in the soil environment, Vol. 2 (C. A. I. Goring, J. W. Hamaker, eds.), pp. 513–568. New York; Dekker 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Engst, R., Macholz, R. M., Kujawa, M.: Metabolismus des Lindan. Abbau von Lindan durch Schimmelpilzkulturen. Nahrung 18, 737–745 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, J. C.: A manual of soil fungi, 2nd ed. Ames: Iowa State College Press 1957

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunner, H. B., Zuckerman, B. M.: Degradation of diazinon by synergistic microbial action. Nature (Lond.) 217, 1183–1184 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karapally, J. C., Saha, J. G., Lee, Y. W.: Metabolism of lindane-14C in rabbit: Ether-soluble urinary metabolites. J. Agr. Food Chem. 21, 811–818 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. F.: Thin layer chromatography for pesticide residue analysis. Ass. Offic. Agr. Chem. 48, 1018–1022 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. P.: Use of acid rose bengal and streptomycin in the plate method for estimating soil fungi. Soil Sci. 69, 215–232 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, J. R. W., Tu, C. M., Harris, C. R.: Metabolism of heptachlor and its degradation products by soil microorganisms. J. Econ. Entomol. 62, 1334–1338 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, W. T., Forgash, A. J.: Metabolism of lindane to organic-soluble products by houseflies. J. Agr. Food Chem. 18, 475–481 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, R. A.: Metabolism of lindane and unicellular algae. Proc. 12th Conf. Great Lakes Res: Internat. Assoc. Great Lakes Res., pp. 98–102 (1969)

  • Tu, C. M.: Interaction between lindane and microbes in soils. Arch. Microbiol. 105, 131–134 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tu, C. M., Miles, J. R. W., Harris, C. R.: Soil microbial degradation of aldrin. Life Sci. 7, 311–322 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Waksman, S. A., Fred, E. B.: A tentative outline of the plate method for determining the number of microorganisms. Soil Sci. 14, 27–28 (1922)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yule, W. N., Chiba, M., Morley, H. B.: Fate of insecticide residues. Decomposition of lindane in the soil. J. Arg. Food Chem. 15, 1000–1004 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Contribution No. 631, Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, University Sub Post Office, London, Ontario N6A 5B7

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tu, C.M. Utilization and degradation of lindane by soil microorganisms. Arch. Microbiol. 108, 259–263 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454850

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454850

Key words

Navigation