Gamma BHC Degradation Accompanied by the Growth of Clostridium rectum Isolated from Paddy Field Soil

Abstract

A BHC decomposer isolated from a paddy field soil of Shiga prefecture was identified to be Clostridium rectum. The most dominant degradation intermediate from γ-BHC was identified to be γ-3, 4, 5, 6-tetrachlorocyclohexene (γ-TCCH) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Degradation of γ-BHC took place rapidly in the early growth phase of C. rectum, but was remarkably reduced in the resting state, e.g., spore-formed cell or washed cell sus-pension. The growth and the BHC decomposing ability of C. rectum were inhibited simu-ltaneously by oxygen, chloramphenicol, streptomycin and pentachlorophenol. BHC de-gradation is discussed in relation to the co-metabolism.