Although extensive application of pesticides in crop fields has enhanced crop production, it could adversely affect the soil and the microbes inhabiting it. Several microbes are known to exhibit plant growth promoting traits like indole acetic acid production, siderophore production etc. The present study was designed to screen the bacteria inhabiting monocrotophos (Dimethyl (E)- 1 – methyl – 2 – (methyl – carbamoyl ) vinyl phosphate) exposed sugarcane field soil. The dominant bacteria were Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus firmns, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cerens, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus Paenibacillus, Pseudomonaspolymyca, Bacillus thuringiensis and Pseudomonasmacerans. Staphylococcus aureus was exposed to various concentration of monocrotophos (100, 200 and 300μl). Monocrotophos did not elicit any significant change in the Staphylococcus aureuspopulation. However, IAA production by Staphylococcus aureus significantly declined, which indicates that monocrotophos interferes with IAA metabolism.
