Studies on biodegradation and molecular characterization of 2,4-D Ethyl Ester and Pencycuron induced Cyanobacteria by using GC-MS and 16S rDNA sequencing

GC-MS study and molecular characterization by 16S rDNA amplification were carried out to evaluate differential effects of 2,4-D ethyl ester and pencycuron on Anabaena fertilissima, Aulosira fertilissima and Westiellopsis prolifica. Each organism has its own capacity to degrade both pesticides into various subgroups depending largely upon the main functional group of each individual pesticide. Hence, different subgroups like 2,4-D methyl ester, 2,4-D isobutyl ester, Isobutyric acid allyl ester, 3-Bromobutyric acid, 2,4-D butyl ester, Hydroxyurea, Trifluroacetic acid, 2-Methyl propyl ester, Acetic acid 2-propenyl ester and Acetic acid (2,3-dichlorophenoxy) were transformed from 2,4-D ethyl ester while Benzoxazole was the only compound generated from pencycuron treated W. prolifica. The results obtained by 16S rDNA sequencing confirmed that 16S rDNA region of Anabaena fertilissima was more affected by 2,4-D ethyl ester as there was no homology in the region of 39 basepairs, in addition, several mismatches and gaps were observed, whereas less difference in 16S rDNA was observed in case of Aulosira fertilissima and W. prolific on forth day. However, there was no significant change in the sequence of 16S rDNA pattern of all the three test organisms after 16-days of exposure to pencycuron treatment.