Characterization of Chlorimuron-Ethyl Herbicide Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Paddy Soil

A bacterial strain S5-1 capable of degrading chlorimuron-ethyl was isolated from paddy soil using enrichment technique. On the basis of traditional culture characteristics, colony and cell morphology, physiological and biochemical characteristics, type of internal photosynthetic membrane and combined with 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain was identified as a Rhodopseudomonas sp.. The optimal temperature and pH for biodegradation of chlorimuron-ethyl by Rhodopseudomonas sp. strain S5-1 were 35°Cand pH 7.0, and the degradation rate reached 87.8% within 10 days under the optimal conditions. The results revealed that strain S5-1 could degrade chlorimuron-ethyl efficiently and for further study it could potentially be used as a biological agent for the remediation of soil, water or crops, contaminated by chlorimuron-ethyl herbicide.