Plasmid mediated organophosphate pesticide degradation by Flavobacterium balustinum

Abstract

A bacterium capable of degrading methyl parathion, an organophosphorus insecticide into paranitrophenol (as evidenced by TLC) and other metabolites, was isolated from the agricultural soils of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. This bacterium, identified as Flavobacterium balustinum was found to harbour an indigenous plasmid of approximately 86 kb in size. The degradative enzyme, parathion hydrolase, was found to be encoded by this plasmid. No enzyme activity was observed in plasmid cured strain.