Soil Enrichment Studies with Trifluralin

Abstract

Soil enrichment studies were conducted with trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) with and without exogenous carbon and nitrogen. From 72 bacterial isolates obtained, eight representative ones were tentatively identified as members of the genusPseudomonasbased on size, shape, Gram reaction, and reaction on fluorescent and motility agar. Two of these eight isolates exhibited a significant increase in numbers of viable cells when grown in a medium with trifluralin as the only exogenous carbon and nitrogen source. Chromatographic analysis of culture medium extracts revealed the presence of a degradation product which was not present in the herbicide control. The concentration of this unknown was greatest at the 50 mg/L level of trifluralin which also supported the greatest bacterial growth.