[Degradation of herbicide Alvison-8 by microorganisms]

Microbial degradation of a new herbicide, Alvison-8, was studied. No strains capable of growth at the account of this compound as a source of carbon have been found among microorganisms isolated from soil treated with the herbicide and among collection cultures. Some strains can degrade Alvison-8 at a concentration of 100-300 mg/litre in cooxidative conditions. Effective cosubstrates are such compounds which are actively metabolized by microorganisms but cannot maintain intensive growth. In some cases, the cultures grew at the account of cosubstrates and the process consisted of two stages, i. e. degradation occured at the beginning prior to the phase of active growth.