AUTHOR=Conde Avila V. , Martínez Valenzuela C. , Navarro Noya Y. E. , Bastidas Bastidas P. J. 

TITLE=Inoculation With Azotobacter vinelandii Enhanced Chlorpyrifos Degradation and Reduced Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects in Soil

JOURNAL=Spanish Journal of Soil Science

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/spanish-journal-of-soil-science/articles/10.3389/sjss.2025.14033

DOI=10.3389/sjss.2025.14033

ISSN=2253-6574

ABSTRACT=This study applied free and encapsulated inocula of Azotobacter vinelandii in agricultural soil to evaluate chlorpyrifos (CP) degradation and its impact on cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. Inocula of A. vinelandii were prepared in liquid and alginate beads formulation for applications in soil with and without CP. Allium sativum cells and Eisenia foetida organisms were used as biomarkers for toxicological evaluations. Changes in the mitotic index and nuclear abnormalities in A. sativum cells were used for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity determinations. The percentage survival of E. foetida was calculated. Ultra-highperformance liquid chromatography was used to detect CP. The initial CP concentration (250 mg/kg) decreased by 92% when inoculated with liquid A. vinelandii and by 82% with A. vinelandii encapsulated after 14 d. A 60% decrease in cytotoxic and genotoxic damage to A. sativum cells was detected in treatments inoculated with A. vinelandii. The survival rate of E. foetida was improved by 33% when inoculated with free A. vinelandii compared to contaminated soil. Encapsulation as an inoculation strategy extended the viability of A. vinelandii compared to free inoculation. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that both free and encapsulated inocula of A. vinelandii effectively degrade CP in soil and decrease its toxic effects.