BIOLOGICAL TRANSLOCATION OF PARATHION METHYL BY PILOBOLUS SP. IN CORN MICROSYSTEMS

Abstract

Parathion methyl is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide (OPs). OPs in agroecosystems cause severe health and environmental effects. In this study, the Pilobolus inoculum's ability to remove parathion methyl in microsystems corn crop was evaluated at the laboratory level. Agricultural soils containing Pilobolus inoculum were exposed to 50 μg/dm3 of parathion methyl. The results showed that Pilobolus inoculum can eliminate parathion methyl in 80% of microsystems, and positively influ-ences 20% of the physiological processes of corn plants. This research into the field of myco-remedi-ation widens the use of little-studied fungal species such as Pilobolus to remove pesticides.