ISOLATION OF AN IMAZAQUIN DEGRADING BACTERIUM - Bacillus oleronius IMAZ-AQ5 AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MICROBIAL AGENT FOR THE DEGRADATION OF IMAZAQUIN

The strain IMAZ-AQ5, capable of efficiently degrading imazaquin was isolated from soil. IMAZ-AQ5 was identified as Bacillus oleronius based on 16S rRNA analysis. The optimal pH value and temperature for strain IMAZ-AQ5 to grow were 7.0 and 35 degrees C, respectively. The degradation efficiency of imazaquin (50 mg/L) by strain IMAZ-AQ5 could reach 71.2% in 3 days. Strain IMAZ-AQ5 also had a high tolerance to imazaquin and could tolerate at least 1600 mg/L of imazaquin. In addition, strain IMAZ-AQ5 had been successfully developed into a microbial agent that was easy to commercialize and could be used to treat imazaquin residues in soil. It was believed that strain IMAZ-AQ5 could be used to control imazaquin pollution.