Microbial degradation of organophosphonates by soil bacteria

Abstract

Bacteria that can utilize glyphosate (GP) or methylphosphonic acid (MPA) as a sole phosphorus source have been isolated from soil samples polluted with organophosphonates (OP). No matter which of these compounds was predominant in the native habitat of the strains, all of them utilized methylphosphonate. Some of the strains isolated from GP-polluted soil could utilize both phosphorus sources. Strains growing on glyphosate only were not isolated. The isolates retained high destructive activity after long-term storage of cells in lyophilized state, freezing to -20 degrees C, and maintenance on various media under mineral oil. When phosphorus-starved cells (with 2% phosphorus) were used as inoculum, the efficiency of OP biodegradation significantly increased (1.5-fold).