Question

Which are the microbes that destroy the chemical pesticides in soil?

Answer 1

1.  Pesticides are substances used to prevent crop damage and to destroy or mitigate insects and pathogens.
2. They can be insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
3. Excessive use of these chemical pesticides causes microbial imbalance, environmental pollution, and health hazards.
4. Therefore, the degradation of chemical pesticides is essential.
5. ‘Biodegradation’ refers to the breakdown of pesticides into smaller, harmless forms by a living organism in soil, water, or air.
6. Chemical pesticides break down in the soil because worms, fungi, and bacteria eat them.
7. The bacteria implicated in biodegradation include Flavobacterium, Azotobacter species, Pseudomonas, Acetobacter, and Burkholderia, among others.
8. Some fungi like Aspergillus niger, penicillium, oxysporum, etc. can also degrade and detoxify pesticides.