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Enhanced Acetylene Biodegradation in Soil with History of Exposure to the Gas
Author(s) -
Terry Richard E.,
Leavitt Ronald W.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1992.03615995005600050023x
Subject(s) - biodegradation , environmental chemistry , acetylene , decomposer , soil water , obligate , chemistry , bacteria , soil test , rhodococcus , environmental science , biology , botany , ecology , organic chemistry , ecosystem , genetics
Enhanced biodegradation of acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) in soils could affect experimental assays of N transformations when the gas is employed to inhibit specific enzymes. This study was conducted to examine enhanced biodegradation of C 2 H 2 in field soils with histories of exposure to the gas and to isolate and identify the C 2 H 2 ‐metabolizing microbes. Soil samples from field sites previously exposed to C 2 H 2 and from adjacent, unexposed areas were incubated in the laboratory under 1.0 kPa C 2 H 2 in air and C 2 H 2 metabolism was determined. Soil microbes adapted to C 2 H 2 degradation within 7 d in samples from areas exposed to the gas 4 to 8 yr previously. Enhanced degradation of C 2 H 2 in samples collected outside but adjacent to areas of previous exposure indicates that C 2 H 2 metabolizers may have spread. Most‐probable‐numbers of C 2 H 2 decomposers in excess of 50 000 g −1 were found in soils near the sites of the 1981 and 1985 exposures to C 2 H 2 . Five strains of gram‐positive, obligate aerobic bacteria capable of utilizing C 2 H 2 as their sole C source were isolated and identified as Rhodococcus spp.