Bacterial degradation of endosulfan.

Endosulfan degrading bacteria were isolated from insecticide contaminated soils from coffee plantations of
Coorg District, Kamataka state. Three strains of endosulfan degrading bacteria were isolated and characterized as
Bacillus. Pseudomonas and Nocardia sp. Bacterial colonies were tested for endosulfan utilization. Bacillus and Nocardia
sp grew well in the mineral medium containing endosullan as the only carbon source. The degradation of endosulfan was
followed by monitoring growth of culture, residual endosulfan and the metabolites formed in the medium. Analysis of
culture medium showed disappearance of the parent molecule with formation of very negligible amount of endosulfan
sulfate. The bacterial strain isolated in the present study seems to be a strong candidate for bioremediation of plantation
soils contaminated with endosulfan.