Open AccessEstimation of atrazine‐degrading genetic potential and activity in three French agricultural soils
Author(s) -
MartinLaurent Fabrice,
Cornet Laurent,
Ranjard Lionel,
LópezGutiérrez JuanCarlos,
Philippot Laurent,
Schwartz Christophe,
Chaussod Rémi,
Catroux Gérard,
Soulas Guy
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.03.008
Subject(s) - atrazine , amendment , soil water , biology , environmental chemistry , pesticide , microbial population biology , agronomy , ecology , bacteria , chemistry , genetics , law , political science
The impact of organic amendment (sewage sludge or waste water) used to fertilize agricultural soils was estimated on the atrazine‐degrading activity, the atrazine‐degrading genetic potential and the bacterial community structure of soils continuously cropped with corn. Long‐term application of organic amendment did not modify atrazine‐mineralizing activity, which was found to essentially depend on the soil type. It also did not modify atrazine‐degrading genetic potential estimated by quantitative PCR targeting atzA , B and C genes, which was shown to depend on soil type. The structure of soil bacterial community determined by RISA fingerprinting was significantly affected by organic amendment. These results showed that modification of the structure of soil bacterial community in response to organic amendment is not necessarily accompanied by a modification of atrazine‐degrading genetic potential or activity. In addition, these results revealed that different soils showing similar atrazine‐degrading genetic potentials may exhibit different atrazine‐degrading activities.