Samples of soil from apple orchards with previous history of continuous and extensive use of chlorpyrifos were collected. Chlorpyrifos residues were determined in soil samples collected from Shimla and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. Residues of Chlorpyrifos were estimated by GC equipped with FID system. A higher percentage recovery of chlorpyrifos was observed (90.80-93.60%) in Kullu district soil samples than Shimla district samples. The pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil samples from apple orchards were recorded and ranged from 6.66-7.23 and 0.27-0.37 dSm-1 respectively. The percent organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of soil samples ranged from 0.69-1.12%, 312.67-479.67 Kg/ha, 13.37-23.20 Kg/ha and 261.67-365.67 Kg/ha respectively. Mesophilic bacterial population colonizing various apple orchard soil samples were enumerated after 48 hrs of incubation on nutrient agar at 37°C using serial dilution technique and it was observed that bacterial population in the samples ranged between 0.78 x 105 to 2.41 x 105 cfu/g. A total of seventy two different bacterial strains were further isolated and out of them only fifteen bacterial stains exhibited chlorpyrifos degrading potential. In our study we monitored chlorpyrifos residues along with the physico-chemical analysis of soil samples and also investigated indigenous bacteria inhabiting the apple orchard soils with continuous exposure to chlorpyrifos.

The study was carried out to assess the microbial populations in the Western Ghats. The soil samples were collected from tropical thorn and moist deciduous forest at the depth of 15 cm. The bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes population was assessed using serial dilution and plating technique. Among microbes, the fungal population was observed to be highest in thorn forest (60.07 x103cfu’s g-1of soil) and moist deciduous forest (112.60 x103cfu’s g-1 of soil). The comparative study between this two forest types, showed the results of lowest bacterial (27.60 x 105cfu’s g-1), actinomycetes (35.13 x 104 cfu’s g-1) and fungi (60.07 x103cfu’s g-1) population in tropical thorn forest

Antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environment can originate from contaminants of human and animal origin such as waste, sewage, effluents, chemical and pharmaceutical products. These contaminants may select resistant organisms and/or introduce resistant bacteria directly in this environment. Thus, the aquatic environment acts as a reservoir for the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological contamination and the level of antibiotic resistance in isolates from samples of raw surface water of the Meia Ponte River, in Goiás State, Brazil. It was performed the multiple-tube fermentation technique to quantify bacterial contamination of the water samples from the river, biochemical tests for the identification of bacterial isolates, and disk diffusion susceptibility test to check sensitivity to antimicrobial agents. It was found high counts of bacteria in the coliform group, mainly during rainy periods. Of the 103 isolated bacteria, the majority was capable of transmitting diseases, mostly gastroenteritis. In addition, it was observed a worrying rate of resistant bacteria present in the environment. Further researches are necessary to understand the demand of antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environment, and to verify its consequences. Some measures should be created to prevent the spread of resistant microorganisms in the environment.

The present work aimed to isolate Lactuca sativa (lettuce) rhizobacteria and assess its capacity to bio-convert glycerol into the added-value compounds 2,3-butanediol and 1,3-propanediol. Six strains were isolated from rhizospheric soil in a selected culture medium and identified by sequencing the 16S rDNA region. The microbial growth pattern was tested in different glycerol concentrations, and the simultaneous production of the compounds of interest was quantified. The species of the Enterobacteriaceae family dominated, especially the genus Enterobacter. The test of different glycerol concentrations in culture medium suggests a concentration of 20 g.L-1 as ideal to promote the fermentation process and grow the isolated rhizobacteria. Three samples were identified as simultaneous producers of the relevant compounds. The best fermenting isolate, Enterobacter cloacae (AG3), produced 0.522 g.L-1 of 2,3-butanediol and 0.735 g.L-1 of 1,3-propanediol. Therefore, lettuce rhizobacteria are capable of producing added-value compounds from the fermentation of glycerol as a sole carbon source.