Diversity of Chlorpyrifos-Degrading Fungi Isolated from Chlorpyrifos-Contaminated Agricultural Soil

Abstract

Chlorpyrifos is among the most extensively used organophosphorus pesticides in agriculture to control crop pests, reduce damage to insects, control mosquitoes, and reduce household pests. The extensive usage of chlorpyrifos has resulted in widespread contamination of the natural environment, affecting non-target organisms and causing potential environmental jeopardy. As for the toxicity of chlorpyrifos in the environment, the exploration of chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil fungus to remediate the contaminated area is of immense importance. This study isolated and identified fungi from chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil (6° 32' 30.5''N, 100° 15' 39.3'') in pursuing our search to find a chlorpyrifos bioremediation agent. Five chlorpyrifos-surviving fungi were successfully isolated from the chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil and identified as Fusarium oxysporus, Teleromyces verruculosus, Albifimbria terrestris, Aspergillus terreus and Purpureocillium lilacinum. Their identification had been proven by molecular analysis based on 18S rRNA sequence homology and morphological characteristics. The identified strains had the potential to clean up chlorpyrifos pesticide-contaminated environment.