Effect of endosulfan on growth, ⍺ amylase activity and plasmids amplification in Bacillus subtilis

123-126Endosulfan, a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide of cyclodiene subgroup acts as a contact poison in a wide variety of organisms. In the present study, the effect of endosulfan on the growth, α amylase activity and plasmid amplification was investigated in Bacillus subtilis system. The bacteria were grown in medium, incubated with different concentrations (32, 48, 64 and 80 μg/mL) of endosulfan. The bacterial growth was gradually seen after 1st day at up to 48 μg/L endosulfan. The 48 μg/L endosulfan inhibited approximately 50% of the bacterial growth. No growth was observed at and after 64 μg/L endosulfan, for all days (1-5). Also, no ⍺ amylase activity was found in the supernatant of the culture medium containing 64 and 80 μg/L endosulfan, whereas slight activity was observed with 32 and 48 μg/L endosulfan concentration. The amount of plasmid increased up to 50% in the presence of 32 μg/L endosulfan. Endosulfan had no effect on the ⍺ amylase activity in vitro