Efficient Degradation of Phenoxyalkanoic Acid Herbicides by the Alkali-Tolerant Strain X32.

Phenoxyalkanoic acid (PAA) herbicides are mainly metabolized by microorganisms in soils, but the degraders that perform well under alkaline environments are rarely considered. Herein, we report strain X32, which showed encouraging PAA-degradation abilities, PAA tolerance, and alkali tolerance. In liquid media, without the addition of exogenous carbon sources, X32 could completely remove 500 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid within 3 days, faster than that with the model degrader JMP134. Particularly, X32 still functioned at pH 10.5. Of note, with X32 inoculation, we observed 2,4-D degradation in soils and diminished phytotoxicity to maize (). Furthermore, potential mechanisms underlying PAA biodegradation and alkali tolerance were then analyzed by whole-genome sequencing. Three modules of gene clusters involved in 2,4-D catabolism and genes encoding monovalent cation/proton antiporters involved in alkali tolerance were putatively identified. Thus, X32 could be a promising candidate for the bioremediation of PAA-contaminated sites, especially in alkaline surroundings.