White rot fungi enzyme enhancement for biobed bioremediation systems

Overview

This solution enhances on-farm bioremediation systems known as biobeds by incorporating enzymes from native white rot fungi (WRF) into the biomix. Biobeds are used by farmers to degrade pesticide residues from sprayer washings and spills. By regularly adding WRF enzymes, the system achieves faster and more complete dissipation of multiple pesticides applied simultaneously, offering a long-term, sustainable approach to protecting soil health in agricultural operations.

Technical specifications

White rot fungi naturally produce unspecific enzymes evolved to break down lignin, a highly variable and complex organic compound. This lack of specificity enables the enzymes to degrade a broad range of pesticide structures. Key technical findings include:

• Native WRF species grew on glyphosate and atrazine as the sole carbon source at concentrations of 500–1500 mg/L
• Although fungal growth was not observed with 2,4-D, enzymes released from inoculum generated degradation halos, confirming enzymatic breakdown
• All evaluated species produced phenoloxidase enzymes in liquid culture at all tested pesticide concentrations
• Laboratory-scale biobeds demonstrated phenoloxidase activity when glyphosate, 2,4-D, and atrazine were simultaneously applied at increasing sequential rates (100, 200, and 300 mg a.i./kg at 0, 30, and 60 days respectively)

Future validation will assess pesticide dissipation efficiency in biobeds supplemented with enzymes from three WRF species in both individual and mixed treatments, progressing from laboratory to field scale.

Technology readiness level

The technology is currently at laboratory-scale validation. Preliminary results confirm the degradative capacity of native WRF enzymes on glyphosate, 2,4-D, and atrazine, the main pesticides used in Argentina. The next phase involves laboratory-scale dissipation trials followed by field-scale validation within an estimated 1.5 years. The research team is seeking partnerships for chromatographic analyses, enzymatic activity determination, field-scale trial equipment, funding for key personnel, and design of a complementary accessory system compatible with biobed configurations such as Phytobac.