Degradation of carbofuran by an enrichment culture developed from carbofuran-treated Azolla plot

Standing water from carbofuran-treated Azolla plots showing accelerated deg radation was further enriched by five repeated transfers to carbofuran-supp lemented mineral salts medium. This enrichment culture developed from stand ing water of carbofuran-treated Azolla plot can utilise carbofuran as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The enrichment culture was able to hydrolyse nearly 100% of [ring-C-14]carbofuran to carbofuran phenol in five days, wh ich accumulated in the medium, while the carbamate side-chain in [carbonyl- C-14]carbofuran was readily mineralized to [C-14]carbon dioxide. Enrichment culture was able to degrade carbofuran up to 1000 mu g ml(-1) levels in mi neral salts medium with ease. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.