MICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN HEAT- AND ELECTRON-STERILIZED SOIL SEEDED WITH MICROORGANISMS

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Abstract
Colonization of heat- and electron-sterilized soil by soil microorganisms was investigated. Arthrobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megaterium, Xanthomonas vesicatoria, and Trichoderma viride grew well in electron-sterilized soil. Such soil was unfavorable for the growth of Myxococcus fulvus. The growth of Arthrobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., X. vesicatoria, and M. fulvus was inhibited at least for 19 hours in autoclaved soil. The duration of inhibition varied with the type of organism tested and the length of time the soil was exposed to heat during the sterilization period. A natural population of soil microorganisms seeded into autoclaved soil grew well after a 15-hour lag period while it showed no lag phase in the irradiated soil.