Isolation and characterization of a Pseudomonas sp. that mineralizes the s-triazine herbicide atrazine

A bacterium that was capable of metabolizing atrazine at very high concentrations (>1,000 ppm) was isolated from a herbicide spill site. The organism was differentiated by observing clearing zones on indicator agar plates containing 1,000 ppm atrazine. Detailed taxonomic studies identified the organism as a Pseudomonas sp., designated ADP, that was dissimilar to currently known species. Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP metabolized atrazine as its sole nitrogen source. Nongrowing suspended cells also metabolized atrazine rapidly; for example, 9 x 10⁹ cells per ml degraded 100 ppm of atrazine in 90 min. Atrazine was metabolized to hydroxyatrazine, polar metabolites, and carbon dioxide. When uniformly ring-labeled [¹⁴C]atrazine was used, 80% of the radioactivity was liberated as ¹⁴CO₂. These data indicated the triazine ring was completely mineralized. The isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP may contribute to efforts on atrazine bioremediation, particularly in environments containing very high pesticide levels.