Abstract
The flow of carbon from plant roots into soil supports a range of microbial processes and is therefore critical to ecosystem function and health. Pollution-induced stress, which influences rhizosphere C flow is of considerable potential importance, and therefore needs to be evaluated. This paper reports on a method, based on reporter gene technology, for quantifying pollutant effects on rhizosphere C flow. The method uses the lux-marked rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens, where bioluminescence output of this biosensor is directly correlated with the metabolic activity and reports on C flow in root exudate. Plantago lanceolata was treated with paraquat (representing a model pollutant stress) in a simple microcosm system. The lux-biosensor response correlated closely with C concentrations in the exudate and demonstrated that the pollutant stress increased the C flow from the plantago roots, 24 h after application of the herbicide, The lux-reporter system therefore potentially offers a technique for use in assessing the impact of pollutant stress on rhizosphere C flow through the soil microbial biomass. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1549-1554 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Chemosphere |
Volume | 41 |
Publication status | Published - 2000 |
Keywords
- bioluminescence
- Pseudomonas fluorescens
- rhizosphere C flow
- Plantago lanceolata
- paraquat
- PSEUDOMONAS-FLUORESCENS
- SOIL
- CARBON
- COPPER
- CELL
- ROOTS