pesticide-degradation
Pesticide degradation is the process by which pesticides are broken down—through microbial, chemical, or photolytic pathways—into less harmful compounds in soil and plant environments. Understanding this process is critical for plant science because residual pesticides can accumulate in plant tissues, disrupt growth and physiology, and affect soil microbial communities that support root health. Research into degradation pathways helps scientists develop safer agrochemicals and cultivation practices that minimize toxic persistence in agricultural ecosystems.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-09
Scientists in Ethiopia discovered two bacteria that can break down chlorpyrifos, a harmful pesticide widely used in agriculture despite restrictions. These microbes degraded up to 70% of the pesticide, offering a natural cleanup method for contaminated soil and water.
Escherichia fergusonii degraded 59.34% of chlorpyrifos at 50 mg/L concentration
Clostridium bifermentans degraded 70.82% of chlorpyrifos at 50 mg/L concentration
Both bacterial strains are newly reported chlorpyrifos degraders, identified via 16S rRNA sequencing and confirmed by GC-MS analysis