Biodegradation of β-Cyfluthrin by Fungi

Abstract

Five fungal species, namely, Trichoderma viride strain 5−2, T. viride strain 2211, Aspergillus niger, A. terricola, and Phanerochaete chrysoporium were screened for degradation study of β-cyfluthrin. Each fungal species was allowed to grow in Czapek dox medium containing β-cyfluthrin (5 mg/mL) as the major carbon source of the medium. The highest degradation of β-cyfluthrin was observed by T. viride 5−2 (T_1/2 = 7.07 days), followed by T.viride 2211 (T_1/2 = 10.66 days). The degradation of β-cyfluthrin followed first-order kinetics with a fast degradation rate during first 7 days of growth of the fungi. In the case of T. viride strain 5−2, five degradation products were isolated after 20 days of growth of the fungi, out of which three products were identified as α-cyano-4-fluorobenzyl-3- (2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropane carboxylate, α-cyano-4-fluoro-3-phenoxy benzyl alcohol, and 3(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropanoic acid. Keywords: β-Cyfluthrin; biodegradation; Trichoderma