Chlorpyrifos (CP) is one of organophosphorus (OP) compounds used as pesticides in the agriculture... more Chlorpyrifos (CP) is one of organophosphorus (OP) compounds used as pesticides in the agriculture field in India. The persistence of CP causes environmental pollution and act as a nervous agent that affect human and animals health. Response surface methodology (RSM) was explored to optimize the biodegradation conditions of CP using Bacillus cereus MCAS 02 isolate from agriculture soil. The optimum biodegradation conditions were found to be pH 7.5, 90 rpm, 32 °C and 2.5 gL-1. Under these conditions, B. cereus reached a maximum CP degradation (89%). Besides, a mathematical model was developed herein, and this model could be effectively used to predict and optimize the CP degradation conditions by B. cereus within the limits of chosen factors. In this optimum Mineral salt medium (MSM) with chlorpyrifos, B. cereus could breakdown the CP into 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) and Diethyl Phosphorothioate (DETP), and its formation was confirmed by the m/z peak of GC-MS analysis, which was later metabolized to unknown polar metabolites. B. cereus has the ability to produce organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) enzyme which is involved in the degradation of mentioned compounds. The results obtained highlights that the application of 2 CP favored B. cereus harbors metabolic pathway for detoxification of CP and its hydrolysis product TCP into polar metabolites. Thus, it is suggested that B. cereus will be a potential agent and a boon for the bioremediation of CP contaminated agriculture soil field and associated water environment, thereby avert pollution and health hazards.
In India honey bees like Apis cerana and Apis mellifera are reared for commercial purpose. The ot... more In India honey bees like Apis cerana and Apis mellifera are reared for commercial purpose. The other bees like rock bee (Apis dorsata), little bee (Apis florea) and dammer bee (Trigona sp) are not domesticated because of their ecophysiology. However, the kani tribes living in Karayar area of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve area (KMTR) of Western Ghats have developed a novel method of rearing the dammer bees. The objective of the study is to understand the traditional skill of Kani tribes to rear the stingless bee (Trigona sp.) which was not used for regular bee keeping. The present study also gives importance to evolve commercial strategies to get honey (medicinal honey) from Trigona sp. The findings of the present study will help to preserve the art of rearing stingless bees and to introduce modern techniques to harvest pure, clean and uncontaminated honey by suitable modifications in the indigenous practice of stingless bee rearing. The honey produced by dammer bees is a panacea for much human illness. The Kani tribes have developed a bamboo pole bee hive to keep this stingless bee belonged to the species Trigona irredipensis. The dammer bees build an interesting type of comb made of propolis, mud and about 600-700gm honey is collected per year per hive. Because of rich medicinal value the honey collected from this beehive is sold at a rate of Rs.1000/Kg.
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