Enhanced Biodegradation of Endosulfan by Aspergillus and Trichoderma spp. Isolated from an Agricultural Field of Tarai Region of Uttarakhand

Two endosulfan degrading fungal isolates (FII and FIII) were recovered from the soil of an agricultural field of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. Maximum tolerance limit of both the fungi for endosulfan was 350 ppm in minimal medium. On the basis of morphological and molecular characters, FII and FIII showed 100% homology with Aspergillus oryzae and Trichoderma longibrachiatum respectively. Pattern of degradation of endosulfan in minimal broth was: consortium (FII+FIII) >FII>FIII and percent degradation of # and # isomers of endosulfan by the fungal consortium was 93 and 95 respectively after 15 days. Immobilized fungal consortium performed better than the individual fungus and consortium under same conditions. Consortium performed best in biodegradation and uptake of endosulfan in a pot experiment on maize, where soil was spiked with 100 mg kg−1 endosulfan.