Potential for microbial diuron mineralisation in a small wine-growing watershed: from treated plots to lotic receiver hydrosystem.

BACKGROUND: Since biological degradation processes are known to be a major driver of the natural attenuation of pesticide residues in the environment, microbial communities adapted to pesticide biodegradation are likely to play a key environmental role in reducing pesticide exposure in contaminated ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the diuron-mineralising potential of microbial communities at a small-scale watershed level, including a diuron-treated vineyard (pollution source), its associated grass buffer strip (as a river protection area against pesticide runoff) and the lotic receiver hydrosystem (sediments and epilithon), by using radiorespirometry.
RESULTS: Comparison of results obtained at different sampling sites (in both soil and aquatic systems) revealed the importance of diuron exposure in the adaptation of microbial communities to rapid diuron mineralisation in the vineyard but also in the contaminated grass strip and in downstream epilithic biofilms and sediments.
CONCLUSION: This study provides strong suggestive evidence for high diuron biodegradation potential throughout its course, from the pollution source to the final receiving hydrosystem, and suggests that, after microbial adaptation, grass strips may represent an effective environmental tool for mineralisation and attenuation of intercepted pesticides.