Potential of preventive bioremediation to reduce environmental contamination by pesticides in an agricultural context: A case study with the herbicide 2,4-D

One of the major problems with pesticides is linked to the non-negligible proportion of the sprayed active ingredient that does not reach its intended target and contaminates environmental compartments. Here, we have implemented and provided new insights to the preventive bioremediation process based on the simultaneous application of the pesticide with pesticide-degrading microorganisms to reduce the risk of leaching into the environment. This study pioneers such a practice, in an actual farming context. The 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide (2,4-D) and one of its bacterial mineralizing-strains (Cupriavidus necator JMP134) were used as models. The 2,4-D biodegradation was studied in soil microcosms planted with sensitive (mustard) and insensitive (wheat) plants. Simultaneous application of a 2,4-D commercial formulation (DAM (R)) at agricultural recommended doses with 10(5) cells.g(-1) dw of soil of the JMP134 strain considerably accelerated mineralization of the herbicide since its persistence was reduced threefold for soil supplemented with the mineralizing bacterium without reducing the herbicide efficiency. Furthermore, the inoculation of the Cupriavidus necator strain did not significantly affect the alpha- and beta-diversity of the bacterial community. By tackling the contamination immediately at source, the preventive bioremediation process proves to be an effective and promising way to reduce environmental contamination by agricultural pesticides.

Automated summary

This study introduces a preventive bioremediation process that involves simultaneous application of pesticides and pesticide-degrading microorganisms to significantly reduce the risk of environmental contamination. The experimental results demonstrate that co-application of specific bacterial strains can accelerate pesticide degradation without impacting the diversity of bacterial community.