Biodegradation potential of chlorpyrifos from soil microbiont Trichoderma asperellum S8 and its biocontrol efficacy

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide, and its overuse has resulted in serious health consequences. In the current investigation, the fungal isolate Trichoderma asperellum S8 was isolated from pesticide-contaminated agricultural soil. The isolate utilised 700 ppm of chlorpyrifos as its sole carbon source for growth and metabolism. Trichoderma asperellum S8 demonstrated a 94.6% chlorpyrifos breakdown upon optimization at pH 8 and temperature 27 °C, which was determined using TLC (Rf value 0.75), HPLC, and FTIR analysis. The GC-MS analysis revealed the bioconversion of chlorpyrifos into 2,4 Bis (1,1 dimethyl ethyl) phenol, as one of the major by-product, which is a fuel additive compound. Further, Trichoderma asperellum S8 exhibited significant biocontrol activity against major soilborne phytopathogens, including Fusarium oxysporum (85.06 ± 2.17%) , Fusarium solani (89.16 ± 1.04%) , and Rhizoctonia solani (79 ± 1.18%). Trichoderma asperellum S8 also demonstrated the production of hydrolytic enzymes, particularly chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, which contribute to the degradation of fungal cell wall components and enhance its mycoparasitic efficiency. This dual functionality highlights the potential of Trichoderma asperellum S8 as a versatile microorganism with significant promise for both bioremediation and biocontrol applications in agriculture.