ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF ACTINOBACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USAGE FIELDS OFTHE UTTARAKHAND REGION

Abstract

The excessive use of pesticides causesmaximum soil stress and infertile conditions. The present study was performed in order to explore and identify the novel microbial source for the biodegradation of monocrotophos pesticides. Soil samples (approx. 500 g) were collected using some clean,dry, and sterile polythene bags along with a sterile spatula, marking pen rubber band, and other accessories. These samples were air-dried for 1 week, crushed, and sieved. The sieved soils were then used for Actinomycetes isolation. A totalof 120 Soil samples were aseptically collected from different field regions of Uttarakhand viz. Tehri-Garhwal, Chamoli, Srinagar, Uttarkashi, and Haridwar havedominant usage of monocrotophos pesticides. Amongst these samples, A total of 280 microbes were isolated; out of which 24 isolates of Actinobacteria (8.57 %) were isolated. The results revealed the strains of the genera viz. Micromonospora (65%), Actinomycetes (25%,) and Streptomyces (10%)are meant to be responsible for the biodegradation of monocrotophos pesticides.