Atrazine degradation by fungal co-culture enzyme extracts under different soil conditions

This investigation was undertaken to determine the atrazine degradation by fungal enzyme extracts (FEEs) in a clay-loam soil microcosm contaminated at field application rate (5 mu g g(-1)) and to study the influence of different soil microcosm conditions, including the effect of soil sterilization, water holding capacity, soil pH and type of FEEs used in atrazine degradation through a 2(4) factorial experimental design. The Trametes maxima-Paecilomyces carneus co-culture extract contained more laccase activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content (laccase = 18956.0U mg protein(-1), H2O2 = 6.2mg L-1) than the T. maxima monoculture extract (laccase = 12866.7U mg protein(-1), H2O2 = 4.0mg L-1). Both extracts were able to degrade atrazine at 100%; however, the T. maxima monoculture extract (0.32h) achieved a lower half-degradation time than its co-culture with P. carneus (1.2h). The FEE type (p = 0.03) and soil pH (p = 0.01) significantly affected atrazine degradation. The best degradation rate was achieved by the T. maxima monoculture extract in an acid soil (pH = 4.86). This study demonstrated that both the monoculture extracts of the native strain T. maxima and its co-culture with P. carneus can efficiently and quickly degrade atrazine in clay-loam soils.