Bioremediation of an agricultural saline soil contaminated with endosulfan and by an active surface agent induced in a culture.

This study evaluates the production of a biological active surface agent (BASA) through its surface tension (ST) and emulsifying activity (E) for endosulfan degradation (ED) and growth inhibition (GI) in an agricultural saline soil. The fungus, identified as was isolated from the peel (P), then the surface properties were evaluated in 9 culture media through a Taguchi L9 experimental design. The culture conditions included: stirring speed, pH, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources; being glucose, NHN0, 120 rpm and pH of 5, the most significant parameters in the BASA production. The BASA identified as a lipopeptide type, showed a ST = 38 mN m and E=71%. Both properties were stable at 80 °C, while ST presented stability in the pH range of 2 - 12, and a saline concentration of 200 g L; E was also stable at a pH between 8-12. Further application of BASA and fungal inoculum to a contaminated agricultural saline soil presented an GI of 99.8% on the 8th day, and ED of 92.9 ± 4.7% in 30 days, respectively; being the first report that uses this fungus for pesticide and bacteria elimination from an agricultural saline soil.