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.