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Diversity and Activity of PAH-Degrading Bacteria in the Phyllosphere of Ornamental Plants

  • Plant Microbe Interactions
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Abstract

Phyllosphere bacteria on ornamental plants were characterized based on their diversity and activity towards the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the major air pollutants in urban area. The amounts of PAH-degrading bacteria were about 1–10% of the total heterotrophic phyllosphere populations and consisted of diverse bacterial species such as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, Mycobacterium, and uncultured bacteria. Bacterial community structures analyzed by polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis from each plant species showed distinct band patterns. The uniqueness of these phyllosphere bacterial communities was partly due to the variation in leaf morphology and chemical properties of ornamental plants. The PAH degradation activity of these bacteria was monitored in gas-tight systems containing sterilized or unsterilized leaves. The results indicated that phyllosphere bacteria on unsterilized leaves were able to enhance the activity of leaves for phenanthrene removal. When compared between plant species, phenanthrene removal efficiency corresponded to the size of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria. In addition, phyllosphere bacteria on Wrightia religiosa were able to reduce other PAHs such as acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, and fluorine in 60-ml glass vials and in a 14-l glass chamber. Thus, phyllosphere bacteria on ornamental plants may play an important role in natural attenuation of airborne PAHs in urban areas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Rudolf Müller, Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Germany, for his invaluable suggestions. This work was supported by a grant from the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and The Commission on Higher Education. In addition, it is partially funded by the Chulalongkorn University Graduate Thesis Grant and Research Funds from the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Chontisak Yutthammo, Pairoh Pinphanichakarn & Ekawan Luepromchai

  2. Environmental Science Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Nudchanard Thongthammachat

  3. National Center of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (NCE-EHWM), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Ekawan Luepromchai

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  1. Chontisak Yutthammo
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  2. Nudchanard Thongthammachat
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Correspondence to Ekawan Luepromchai.

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Yutthammo, C., Thongthammachat, N., Pinphanichakarn, P. et al. Diversity and Activity of PAH-Degrading Bacteria in the Phyllosphere of Ornamental Plants. Microb Ecol 59, 357–368 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-009-9631-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-009-9631-8

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