Lindane removal induction by Streptomyces sp. M7

Gamma‐hexachlorocyclohexane (γ‐HCH or lindane), one of the most commonly used pesticides, has been mainly used in agriculture; this pesticide is known to be highly toxic and persistent, causing serious water and soil contamination. The objective of the present work is to study the effect of low glucose concentration and the addition of lindane at different growing time on the pesticide detoxification ability of Streptomyces M7. After 96 h of incubation in synthetic medium containing glucose 0.6 g l–1 with the addition of lindane 100 μg l–1 at 20 h of incubation, a typical diauxic curve was obtained: glucose was the preferred substrate until 24 h, at 48 h, when the carbohydrate was depleted, the microorganism consumed the pesticide like carbon source. On the other hand, lindane removal induction was observed, which was greater when the pesticide was added to the medium at 20 h than 6 h of incubation. Between 72 and 96 h, a maximum of ∼86% of the Cl– was released when lindane was added to the medium at 20 h, whereas ∼70% and 67% Cl– was released in the medium when the pesticide was added at 0 and 6 h of incubation respectively. This is the first report of chloride release from inoculated medium supplemented with lindane, suggesting that the pesticide was degraded by Streptomyces sp. under aerobic conditions. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)