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Isolation and assessment of phytate‐hydrolysing bacteria from the DelMarVa Peninsula
Author(s) -
Hill Jane E.,
Kysela David,
Elimelech Menachem
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2007.01420.x
Subject(s) - biology , arthrobacter , population , manure , bacteria , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , genetics , demography , sociology
Summary The Delaware–Maryland–Virginia (DelMarVa) Peninsula, flanking one side of the Chesapeake Bay, is home to a substantial broiler chicken industry. As such, it produces a significant amount of manure that is typically composted and spread onto local croplands as a fertilizer. Phytate ( myo inositol hexa kis phosphate), the major form of organic phosphorus in the manure, can be hydrolysed by microorganisms to produce orthophosphate. Orthophosphate is a eutrophication agent which can lead to algal blooms, hypoxia and fish kills in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. This transect study reveals a subpopulation of heterotrophic, thiosulfate‐utilizing bacteria that can degrade phytate within the watershed as well as its receiving water sediment. Aerobic isolates were typical soil bacteria, e.g. Pseudomonad , Bacillus and Arthrobacter species, as well as a less common Staphylococcus inhabitant. Bacillus pumilus , Staphyloccocus equorum , Arthrobacter bergei and Pseudomonas marginalis strains have not been previously described as phytate‐degrading. Each site along the transect – from manure pile to receiving sediment – was host to a population of bacteria that can degrade phytate and hence, each is a possible non‐point source of orthophosphate pollution. Each new isolate could provide an enzyme additive for monogastric feed, thus reducing the impact of excessive phytate load on the environment.