| Summary: | Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide widely used to kill weeds in agricultural applications. However, the extensive and improper use of glyphosate leads to more significant health risks to the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate or minimize the concentrations of glyphosate in contaminated areas, which indigenous bacteria can do through bioremediation. Thus, this study aims to isolate and identify potential glyphosate degraders for future bioremediation. Bacteria were isolated from soil samples collected at a palm oil plantation that utilizes glyphosate as a source of carbon, phosphate, and energy sources. Overall, two bacterial isolates were isolated from the soil sample were screened and identified for their ability to utilize glyphosate by culturing in minimal salt media (MSM) supplemented with 0.05 M glyphosate for 30 days of incubation at 37°C and pH 7. The growth of isolates was observed and analysed through the standard plate count method, and the pH value of the culture medium. The isolated bacteria were identified based on their morphological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequences. As a result, Isolate GP 1 and Isolate GP 2, identified as Bacillus tropicus strain UMTFA (GP1) and Proteus mirabilis strain UMTFA2 (GP2) had maximum growth (log phase) from day 9 until day 12 during the incubation period as compared to its controls. Hence, both strains of bacteria have the potential as glyphosate degraders. Therefore, the present study may provide a basis for bio-treatment and bioremediation of pesticide-contaminated soils and water. The authors recommend further studies on the analysis of the biodegradation rate and optimization of the glyphosate and bacterial culture concentration in enhancing the biodegradation of glyphosate.
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