1. History
Streptomycin was discovered in 1943 by Selman Waksman, a Ukrainian-American microbiologist, along with two colleagues, Albert Schatz and Elizabeth Bugie at Rutgers University. It was the first antibiotic effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, and quickly became a medical breakthrough.
Streptomycin was isolated from Streptomyces griseus, a soil-dwelling bacterium. Following its success in medicine, people began to study the application of Streptomycin in agriculture to control bacterial diseases in crops.
2. Properties and Mechanism
• Chemical formula: C₂₁H₃₉N₇O₁₂·xH₂SO₄
• Solubility: Very soluble in water (~100 mg/mL at 25°C). Slightly soluble in ethanol, methanol.
• 10% solution in water has a pH of 4.5 - 7.0, depending on the degree of sulfation.
• Molecular weight: Excluding H₂SO₄: ~581.57 g/mol, Sulfate form (x ≈ 2): ~728 g/mol (depending on the degree of hydration).
• Storage: Stable in dry conditions, protected from light. Sensitive to high temperatures, strong alkalis, and oxidizing agents. Store at 2 - 8°C (in cold conditions, protected from moisture).
• Mechanism: Streptomycin belongs to the aminoglycoside group, attaches to the 30S ribosome of bacteria, inhibits protein synthesis, causes translation errors, leading to bacterial death. Streptomycin effectively kills bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria that cause plant diseases.
3. Advantages
• Fast and obvious effect: Streptomycin has strong bactericidal ability, helping to quickly control diseases caused by bacteria, especially in the early stages of the epidemic.
• Broad spectrum of action: Effective against many types of Gram-negative bacteria and some Gram-positive bacteria.
• Flexible combination: Can be combined with many other pesticides to expand the spectrum of action, for example: Kasugamycin, Oxytetracycline, Copper Oxychloride...
4. Disadvantages
• Drug resistance: Repeated use and incorrect dosage can easily lead to bacteria resistance to Streptomycin, reducing effectiveness in the long term.
• Impact on soil microflora: Streptomycin can alter the natural microbial balance in the soil, affecting the fertility and health of cultivated land.
• Residues and risk of spreading antibiotics: Antibiotic residues on agricultural products or in the environment can affect human health and spread antibiotic resistance genes.
• Limitations in policy: Many countries have restricted or banned the use of Streptomycin in agriculture, especially in organic production, due to concerns about biosafety.
5. Application
• In agriculture, Streptomycin Sulfate (5-10% WP) is combined with other pesticides such as Kasugamycin, Ningnanmycin, Oxytetracyline, Copper Oxychloride, ... to increase the spectrum of action, optimize efficiency and limit pesticide resistance.
• The main uses are to prevent and treat bacterial diseases on rice (leaf blight, grain rot), fruit trees (ulcers, leaf blight), vegetables (leaf spots, soft rot), seed treatment and agricultural product preservation.
6. How to use
• Effective antibiotic management
- Change pesticides: Use many types alternately (Kasugamycin, Copper Oxychloride) to reduce the risk of pesticide resistance in bacteria.
- Use the correct dose: Follow the recommended dose, avoid overuse and overdose.
• Integrate IPM: Combine Streptomycin with other measures such as resistant varieties, field sanitation, and cultivation techniques to limit diseases and reduce chemical drugs.
