Characteristics and metabolic pathway of acetamiprid biodegradation by Fusarium sp. strain CS-3 isolated from soil

An acetamiprid-degrading fungus was isolated from contaminated soil and identified as Fusarium sp. strain CS-3 based on physiological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Strain CS-3 exploited 50 mg/L as the sole carbon source in liquid culture, removing 98% in 96 h. Strain CS-3 retained its acetamiprid degradation abilities over a wide range of pH (5.0-8.0) and temperature (20-42 °C). HPLC-MS analysis showed that N'-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-N-methylacetamide, 2-chloro-5-hydroxymethylpyridine, and 6-chloronicotinic acid were identified as the most predominant metabolites, forming the basis for a newly described acetamiprid degradation pathway. Strain CS-3 efficiently degraded 99.6% of 50 mg/kg acetamiprid in soil, indicating potential for soil remediation.