Effect of pesticides on hydrogen metabolism of Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Abstract

The present study reports the effect of 2,4-D, quinalphos, monocrotophos, captan and carbendazim on the hydrogen metabolism (nitrogenase, photoproduction of hydrogen and hydrogenase activities) of two purple non-sulfur bacteria isolated from paddy soils. In general, the pesticides were found to be inhibitory to both nitrogenase and hydrogen photoproduction activities of both the organisms, and their effect on hydrogenase-mediated reactions varied with the pesticides used and the organisms.