Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of organic matter on the development in soil of antibiotic-producing micro-organisms

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In soil incubated at 30°C no significant change in total counts of streptomyces, other bacteria, or antagonistic types of either group occurred during a 30 to 40-day observation period. Addition of 0.5% (w/w) sodium nitrate had no significant effect on the counts. Organic substances induced a rapid multiplication of micro-organisms, antagonistic types increasing more than others. The main increase in the percentage of antagonists coincided with the period of maximum growth. Organic substances differed in their effects. Some favoured the antagonistic streptomyces and some other antagonistic bacteria. Streptomyces contained the majority of the organisms that were shown to produce antibiotics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gottlieb, D. and Siminoff, P., The production and role of antibiotics in the soil. II, Chloromycetin. Phytopathology42, 91–97 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gregory, K. F., Allen, O. N., Riker, A. J. and Peterson, W. H., Antibiotics as agents for the control of certain damping-off fungi. Am. J. Botany39, 405–415 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jefferys, E. G., The stability of antibiotics in soil. J. Gen. Microbiol.7, 295–312 (1952).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. King, C. J., A method for the control of cotton root-rot in the irrigated South-West. U.S.A. Dept. Agr., Circ.425 (1937).

  5. Krasilnikov, N. A., Formation and accumulation of antbiotic substances in soil. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci U.S.S.R.94, 957–960 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Leithy, M. A., Production of antibiotics by actinomycetes isolated from Egyptian soils. Ph.D. Thesis. Cairo Univ. (1958).

  7. Leithy, M. A. and Monib, M., Antagonistic interrelationships in Egyptian soils. I. Distribution of antagonistic actinomycetes. Bull. Fac. Agr., Cairo Univ.in press (1959).

  8. Martin, N. and Gottlieb, D., The production and role of antibioties in soil. V. Antibacterial activity of five antibiotics in the presence of soil. Phytopathology45, 407–408 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Millard, W. A. and Taylor, C. B., Antagonism of micro-organisms as controlling factor in inhibition of scab by green manuring. Ann. Appl. Biol.14, 202–215 (1927).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pramer, D. and Starkey, R. L., Decomposition of streptomycin. Science,113, 127 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rouatt, J. W. and Atkinson, R. G., The effect of the incorporation of certain cover crops on the microbiological balance of potato scab infected soils. Can. J. Research C.28, 140–152 (1950).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sanford, G. B., Soil-borne diseases in relation to the microflora associated with various crops and soil amendments. Soil Sci.61, 9–21 (1946).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Siminoff, P. and Gottlieb, D., The production and role of antibiotics in the soil, I. The fate of streptomycin. Phytopathology41, 420–430 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Skinner, F. A., The effect of adding clays to mixed cultures ofStreptomyces albidoflavus andFusarium culmorum. J. Gen. Microbiol.14, 393–405 (1956).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Stevenson, I. L., Antibiotic production of actinomycetes in soil demonstrated by morphological changes induced inHelminthosporium sativum. Nature (London)174, 398 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Stevenson, I. L., Antibiotic activity of actinomycetes in soil and their controlling effects on root-rot of wheat. J. Gen. Microbiol.14, 440–448 (1956).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Taylor, C. B., The nutritional requirements of the predominant bacterial flora of the soil. Proc. Soc. Appl. Bacteriol.14, 101–111 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Thornton, H. G., On the development of a standardised agar medium for counting soil bacteria, with especial regard to the repression of spreading colonies. Ann. Appl. Biol.9, 241–274 (1922).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Topping, L. E., The predominant micro-organisms in soils. I. Description and classification of the organisms. Zentr. Bakteriol. Parasitenk. Abt. II97, 289–304 (1937).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Waksman, S. A., Microbial Antagonisms and Antibiotic Substances. The Common Wealth Fund, New York. p. 56 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wood, R. K. S., The control of diseases of lettuce by the use of antagonistic organisms. II. The control ofRhizoctonia solani. Ann. Appl. Biol.28, 217–230 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wright, J. M., The production of antibiotics in soil. I. Production of gliotoxin byTrichoderma viride. Ann. Appl. Biol.41, 280–289 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wright, J. M., The production of antibiotics in soil. II. Production of griseofulvin byPenicillium nigricans. Ann Appl. Biol.43, 288–298 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Bacteriology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza

    Y. Abd-El-Malek, M. Monib & M. N. Zayed

Authors
  1. Y. Abd-El-Malek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Monib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. N. Zayed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abd-El-Malek, Y., Monib, M. & Zayed, M.N. Effect of organic matter on the development in soil of antibiotic-producing micro-organisms. Plant Soil 15, 25–36 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01421748

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01421748

Keywords

Search

Navigation