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The ectomycorrhizosphere as a bioreactor for persistent organic pollutant (POP) remediation

Reference	BRE13662
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Andrew Meharg
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Ian Alexander, Professor Philip Ineson, Professor Ken Killham
Institution	University of Aberdeen
Department	Plant and Soil Science
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	220,252
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	08/01/2001
End date	08/01/2004
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The ecto-mycorrhizosphere provides an ideal environment for the degradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) due to the interactions between host- mycorrhizal fungi and mycorrhizosphere bacteria. Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi have the enzymatic capabilities to degrade a wide range of POPs, and as tree fine roots occupy considerable volumes of soil, the fermintation layers of forest soil horizons may be exploited for bioremediation purposes. Also, it is known that the ecto-mycorrhizosphere can harbour bacteria that carry genes for POP degradation. How roots, fungi and bacteria work in concert to facilitate POP (PAHs will be used as the study compounds) will be the focus on this study.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Biological Interactions in the Root Environment (BRE) [2000]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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