Degradation characteristics of an acetochlor-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus sp. T3-1

The degradation characteristics of acetochlor by Rhodococcus sp. T3-1 were studied by using acetochlor as sole carbon source and shaking-flask culture. Results showed that the optimum temperature for the degradation of acetochlor by strain T3-1was 37°C, and the degradation rate of 100 mg/L acetochlor was in the range of 96%~97% within the range of pH 6~10. Strain T3-1could degrade 95.5% of 200 mg/L acetochlor in 14h with inoculum size 5%. The degradation rate of acetochlor was negatively and positively correlated with the initial concentration of acetochlor and inoculum size of strain T3-1, respectively. Strain T3-1could also degrade butachlor, but not pretilachlor, propisochlor and metazachlor.