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The use of the tetrazolium reduction test for the detection of the terminal electron transport system (ETS) activity in decomposing reed (Phragmites australis /Cav./ Trin. ex Steud.) rhizome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2009

E. Szabó
E. Szabó*
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Danube Research Station of the HAS, H-2163 Vacratot, Alkotmany street 2-4, Hungary.
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

Tetrazolium reduction and enzyme kinetics were examined to estimate the ETS activity of decomposing reed (Phragmites australis /Cav./ Trin. ex Steud.) rhizome to collect information on the activity of microbial decomposers. Optimal incubation time was determined at 22 °C. For complete enzyme extraction, 4-6 min. of homogenization was necessary. The main substrates of the enzymatic reaction were NADH and NADPH. The reaction was fastest when 2-(-p-iodophenyl)-3-(-p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride (INT ; 0.8 mM), NADPH (0.25 mM) and NADH (1.7 mM) were applied simultaneously. The optimal incubation time should be less than 20 minutes. The pH optimum of the enzyme reaction is 8.0-8.4. ETS activity of decomposing reed rhizome can be used to estimate potentially the oxygen consumption of microorganisms involved in decomposition and, indirectly, the rate of decomposition.

Keywords

electron transport systemenzyme activityreed rhizomedecompositiontetrazolium test
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 39 , Issue 1 , March 2003 , pp. 63 - 70
Copyright
© Université Paul Sabatier, 2003

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