Effect of herbicides on cellulose decomposition by Sporocytophaga myxococcoides.

The effects of 14 herbicides on cellulose decomposition by Sporocytophaga myxococcoides were studied by growing the organism in two different liquid cellulose-mineral salts media in the presence of the test agent and then quantitatively determining the residual cellulose. In the first medium, containing acid-hydrolyzed cellulose, anthrone reagent was used to determine residual carbohydrate. In the second medium, Gooch Pyrex fritted-glass crucibles were used to determine the amount of residual Whatman powdered cellulose. The herbicides used were Atrazine, Simazine, Dacthal, Diuron, Amiben, Banvel-D, Banvel-T,2,3,6-TBA, Dicryl, Maleic Hydrazide, Stam F-34, Zytron, Fenac, and Dalapon. Of these, Zytron appeared to be the most inhibitory to the test bacterium, and was the only compound exhibiting inhibition at a commonly used field rate of application (2 ppm).