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. 1977 Feb;33(2):356-62.
doi: 10.1128/aem.33.2.356-362.1977.

Degradation of malathion by salt-marsh microorganisms

A W Bourquin

Degradation of malathion by salt-marsh microorganisms

A W Bourquin. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 Feb.

Abstract

Numerous bacteria from a salt-marsh environment are capable of degrading malathion, an organophosphate insecticide, when supplied with additional nutrients as energy and carbon sources. Seven isolates exhibited ability (48 to 90%) to degrade malathion as a sole carbon source. Gas and thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy confirmed malathion to be degraded via malathion-monocarboxylic acid to the dicarboxylic acid and then to various phosphothionates. These techniques also identified desmethyl-malathion, phosphorthionates, and four-carbon dicarboxylic acids as degradation products formed as a result of phosphatase activity.

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References

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