BIODEGRADATION OF PESTICIDES THROUGH METAGENOMIC APPROACHES

Abstract

The idea behind the work is to check for the residence of pesticide degrading genes in plasmids and to transform them on an expression vector allowing them to degrade the pesticide more efficiently. Seven different commercially used toxic pesticides were used for bioremediation study. Around 20 organisms were first isolated and based on their pesticide tolerance, 11 organisms were further used for analysis. Each of the organisms was first subjected to plasmid curing and confirmed for their ability of pesticide degradation ability on plasmids. From the isolated 6 organisms based on their efficiency, 3 isolates containing plasmids were further chosen. Their plasmids were extracted and transformed to E.coli DHα. Upon subjecting them to agarose gel electrophoresis the result implies the successful transformation of only two plasmid DNA to the host cell. The pesticide degradation rate of the genetically modified strain was found to be higher than that of the wild type adapted strain. Morphometeric and germinating ability of Venia radiata was tested in pesticide contaminated soil and was found to support the growth of the plant.