Characterization and identification of methomyl -degrading isolate
The enrichment procedure generated a pure culture, designated as M1, which is able to grow in minimal media containing methomyl (100 ppm) as a sole source of carbon. Furthermore, this bacterium tolerates a high level of methomyl up to 1000 ppm in the presence of 0.05% glucose. Taxonomic characterization of M1 strain revealed that it is gram - negative, aerobic, motile, oxidase negative and catalase positive. Partial sequence analysis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene confirmed the classification of the isolate as a member of the genus Stenotrophomonas where it showed the highest degree of similarity (99%) to that of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Based upon this finding, the isolate was designated as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia M1 strain. It has been reported that S. maltophilia is able to degrade many xenobiotic compounds (Lee et al. 2002) and to detoxify high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Juhasz et al. 2000). Therefore, it possesses a potential for soil decontamination (bioremediation).