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Research Paper | Microbiology | Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026 | Pages: 649 - 653 | India
Isolation and Characterization of Pesticide Tolerant Bacteria and their Role in Enhancing Plant Growth in Pesticide Contaminated Soil
Abstract: Soil contamination resulting from intensive pesticide use poses a significant threat to microbial diversity and soil functionality in agricultural systems all over the globe. This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of pesticide-tolerant bacteria from pesticide- contaminated soil and evaluates their potential role in plant growth promotion under laboratory conditions. Soil samples were collected from chilli cultivation fields in Walayar, Palakkad, Kerala, an area subjected to frequent pesticide use. Bacterial isolation was carried out using the spread plate technique on nutrient agar incorporated with monocrotophos at concentrations of 100 ppm and 200 ppm, followed by confirmation of tolerance at 300 ppm through streak plating. A representative isolate was purified and characterized based on morphological, microscopic, and biochemical properties. The isolate was identified as a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium showing positive reactions for methyl red, oxidase, and catalase tests, and negative reactions for Voges?Proskauer, citrate utilization, and indole production. Evaluation of plant growth-promoting factors revealed positive ammonia production, while indole-3-acetic acid production and phosphate solubilization were not observed under the conditions tested. The ability of the isolate to grow across multiple pesticide concentrations indicates adaptive tolerance, while the selective expression of functional traits depicts a limited but potentially relevant role in nutrient cycling. These findings provide initial insight into the presence of bacterial populations which show resilience in pesticide-impacted soils and their possible contribution to maintaining soil functionality. Further studies involving molecular identification and quantitative analysis are required to better understand their ecological significance and potential applications in sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: Pesticide tolerance, Monocrotophos, Soil bacteria, Plant growth-promoting traits, Ammonia production, Agricultural soil, PGPR
How to Cite?: Mohemed Haris A, Dr M Thangavel, "Isolation and Characterization of Pesticide Tolerant Bacteria and their Role in Enhancing Plant Growth in Pesticide Contaminated Soil", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 649-653, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26409174411, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26409174411