Degradation of pendimethalin by soil fungi

Several soil fungi, Aspergillus flavus, A. terreus, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Penicillium citrinum and P. simplicissimum effectively degrade pendimethalin [N‐(I‐ethylpropyl)‐2,6‐dinitro‐3,4‐xylidine] supplied as sole carbon source in mineral solution. Degradation of pendimethalin by F. solani resulted in the isolation and identification of N‐propyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dinitroaniline, N‐(I‐ethylpropyl)‐2‐amino‐6‐nitro‐3,4‐xylidine and 2,6‐dinitro‐3,4‐xylidine. The partial pathways involved in the degradation of pendimethalin have also been proposed.