Effect of lindane on radio-carbon (14C) incorporation by Rhizobium japonicum.

Experiments conducted in vitro with three levels (1, 2, and 5 ppm active ingredient) of the insecticide lindane (gamma-BHC) showed no effect on the growth of Rhizobium japonicum, but altered the incorporation of radio-carbon (14C-glucose) into the different constituents of the growing cells. While all the three levels of the insecticide significantly depressed the incorporation of radiocarbon in the alcohol-extractable fraction, with no effect on the alcohol-ether soluble fraction of the cells, the 2 and 5 ppm levels enhanced the incorporation rate in the cold-TCA soluble fraction, but reduced it in the hot-TCA soluble fraction. Only with the 5ppm level of the insecticide treatment an increase in the specific activity of the insoluble protein fraction of the cells was observed. The results indicated that lindane, at various concentrations, affected the carbon (glucose) metabolism of the Rhizobium cells.