Effect of endosulfan on growth, alpha amylase activity and plasmids amplification in Bacillus subtilis

Endosulfan, a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide of cyclodiene subgroup acts as a contact poison in a wide variety of organisms. In the present study, the effect of endosulfan on the growth, alpha amylase activity and plasmid amplification was investigated in Bacillus subtilis system. The bacteria were grown in medium, incubated with different concentrations (32, 48, 64 and 80 microg/mL) of endosulfan. The bacterial growth was gradually seen after 1st day at up to 48 microg/L endosulfan. The 48 microg/L endosulfan inhibited approximately 50% of the bacterial growth. No growth was observed at and after 64 microg/L endosulfan, for all days (1-5). Also, no alpha amylase activity was found in the supernatant of the culture medium containing 64 and 80 microg/L endosulfan, whereas slight activity was observed with 32 and 48 microg/L endosulfan concentration. The amount of plasmid increased up to 50% in the presence of 32 microg/L endosulfan. Endosulfan had no effect on the alpha amylase activity in vitro.