Bioremediation of Pesticides with Microbes: Methods, Techniques and Practices

Abstract

The wonder molecules of pesticides play an undoubtedly important role in securing the supply of food, fodder and fibre to the ever growing human population. The research and development in pesticide sciences have resulted in a revolutionary shift of pesticide molecules from broad-spectrum, less-selective, persistent and high dose 1st generation of inorganic/metal based compounds to target specific, low dose, less persistent and less toxic 5th generation compounds like novel natural products, brain hormone antagonists etc. However, worldwide indiscriminate application of 2nd and 3rd generation pesticides including several organochlorines, organophsphorus and carbamate pesticides has resulted in contamination of various environmental components. The persistent pesticide residues by the process of bioaccumulation and biomagnifications have moved across different tropic levels of various food-chains, and it has become an issue of serious safety concern for humans as well for other organisms. Hence, remediation methods offer various approaches covering physical/chemical and biological pathways. The bioremediation, specifically with microorganisms, has drawn global attention due to its inherent features covering easy and effective application coupled with no/low energy and chemical input requirement. It offers the possibility of application in the vadose zone where other remediation methods are inaccessible. Microbial bioremediation explores the native potential microbes capable of degrading pesticide residues and various techniques have been developed and practiced in the real field situation. Microbial bioremediation of pesticides is a technique of the future. It is a ‘green’ technique as compared to the conventional/traditional methods of remediation. However, like every method, microbial bioremediation also bears few limitations including microbial adaptation and performance in the real field under the dynamic scenario of climate change. Frontier research in better understanding of microbes at an ecological, biological and genetical level will provide a basis for selection and utilization of microbial population for bioremediations. Bioremediation with microbes holds future promise for a safe and cleaner environment.