The effects of the insecticide acephate on the growth and nutrient uptake of an aquatic bacterium

The effects of high (1000 ppm) and low (1 ppm) concentrations of acephate on the rate of growth and nutrient uptake by an aquatic bacterium (identified as Chromobacterium lividum ) were investigated. This insecticide increased doubling time, decreased maximum cellular yield, and reduced cell size when C. lividum was grown in the presence of high acephate concentrations. Total [14C]glucose and 14C-labeled amino acids uptake rates were reduced by the high acephate concentration. The high acephate concentration did not affect active uptake of [14C]cycloleucine, a nonmetabolized amino acid analogue. Low concentration of acephate had little apparent influence upon these metabolic processes.