FENITROTHION AND 3-METHYL-4-NITROPHENOL DEGRADATION BY 2 BACTERIA IN NATURAL-WATERS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

The ability of two bacterial strains, Flavobacterium sp. strain ATCC 2 7551 and Arthrobacter aurescens strain TW17, to degrade fenitrothion a nd the product of its hydrolysis 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP) in natur al water samples under laboratory conditions was studied. Fenitrothion was degraded by Flavobacterium sp whereas MNP was not degraded by thi s strain. In comparison, MNP was metabolized by A. aurescens and fenit rothion was not. The natural microbial populations did not decompose t he fenitrothion and MNP, however Flavobacterium sp and A. aurescens de graded these compounds in the presence of the natural microbial popula tion.