Degradation of waste 2,4-D residues using a soil bacterium in a sprayer tank system

Abstract

A soil bacterium has been isolated from field soils receiving annual applications of 2,4-D and tentatively identified as Pseudomonas testosteroni Marcus and Talalay. When added to a sprayer tank containing an aerated solution of simple mineral salts and 2,4-D amine formulations, this organism used the herbicide as a carbon source, with stoichiometric release of chloride. This system has been used to biologically degrade 2,4-D amine residues from farm operations and herbicide containers. Key words: Degradation, bacterium, residues, soil, 2,4-D