Bioremediation of Agricultural Soils Polluted with Pesticides: a review

Table 4. 
Classification of the most common herbicides used in agricultural soil. 
Name 
Pesticide Class 
Chemical Structure 
Mode of Action 
Glyphosate Organophosphate 
Disruption of shikimic acid pathway 
through inhibition of the enzyme 5-enolpy-
ruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase. 
Atrazine Organochlorine 
Inhibition of the photosynthetic pathway, 
specifically the photosystem II. 
2,4-D Organochlorine 
Imitation of plant growth hormone auxin 
and uncontrolled cell division in vascular 
tissue, leading to uncontrolled growth and 
eventually death of plants. 
Dicamba Organochlorine 
Imitation of plant growth hormone auxin 
and uncontrolled cell division in vascular 
tissue, leading to uncontrolled growth and 
eventually death of plants. 
Trifluralin Organophosphate 
Inhibition of cell mitosis, acting on the meri-
stems and tissues of underground organs. 
Metolachlor Organochlorine 
Inhibition of elongases and the geranylgera-
nyl pyrophosphate cyclases, important in 
the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids. 
Cyanazine Organochlorine 
Inhibition of the photosynthetic pathway, 
specifically the photosystem II. 
2.2.3. Rodenticides 
Rodenticides act to kill rodents, such as rats, mice, squirrels, and nutria; all these ro-
dents can cause damage to crop, transmit disease, and cause ecological damage. Rodent 
infestations arise in a wide variety of situations: in agriculture soils, inside and around 
buildings, in sewers, in waste dumps, and/or in open areas. 
Inhibition of the photosynthetic
pathway, specifically the
photosystem II.
2.2.3. Rodenticides
Rodenticides act to kill rodents, such as rats, mice, squirrels, and nutria; all these
rodents can cause damage to crop, transmit disease, and cause ecological damage. Rodent
infestations arise in a wide variety of situations: in agriculture soils, inside and around
buildings, in sewers, in waste dumps, and/or in open areas.
Most rodenticides act as anticoagulants that interfere with blood clotting and cause
death due to excessive bleeding. The rodenticide products are baits in block or paste
form [
52
]. The most common rodenticides are summarized in Table
5
.

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Bioengineering