Open AccessGrowth of Nitrobacter by dissimilatoric nitrate reduction
Author(s) -
Freitag Annette,
Rudert Michael,
Bock Eberhard
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02524.x
Subject(s) - nitrite , nitrobacter , nitrate , laboratory flask , ammonia , chemistry , oxidizing agent , nitrogen , anaerobic exercise , biofilm , nitrification , environmental chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , chromatography , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , physiology , genetics
Eight strains of the genus Nitrobacter grew under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate. The growth was inhibited by nitrate concentrations above 0.5 mM. By a special culture technique inhibition caused by nitrite was abolished. Nitrate oxidizing cells grew in gas tight culture flasks as a biofilm on a gas‐permeable silicone tubing. The biofilm allowed nitrate‐reducing cells to grow at a low nitrite concentration. These cells grew either actively motile in the anaerobic medium, or in anaerobic zones of the biofilm. They produced nitrite and ammonia. Nitrogen balance calculations established a loss of inorganic nitrogen for 5 of 8 strains. This implies that nitrate‐reducing cells produced furthermore volatile nitrogen compounds. N 2 O was detected by gas chromatography.