Simazine: Degradation by Soil Microorganisms

A soil fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus Fres., is effective in the degradation of the herbicide 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine). The degradation of both ring-and chain-labeled (C(14)) simazine was observed in an unamended and an amended (sucrose) basal medium. A loss of C(14) occurred in all culture solutions containing either ring-or chain-labeled simazine, but the decrease in activity observed was greater with chain-labeled than with ring-labeled simazine. Chromatographic evidence indicates that A. fumigatus may possess a degradation mechanism unlike that which occurs in corn plants.