A COMBINED USE OF PLANTS AND PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING PSEUDOMONAS FOR OIL SPILL BIOREMEDIATION

Alexander M. Boronin*
Irina A. Kosheleva
Vladimir V. Kochetkov
Andrei E. Filonov Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms
Prospect Nauki, 5
142290 Pushchino
Russia
Voice: +7 (095) 956 33 70
Fax: +7 (095) 956 33 70
E-mail: Boronin@ibpm.serpukhov.su

Vera A. Dmitrieva Center for Ecological Research and BioResources Development
Pushchino, Russia

One of the promising bioremediation approaches is the concurrent use of plants and rhizosphere microorganisms of the Pseudomonas genus known for their plant growth promotion ability (PGPRP). Many genetic systems responsible for degradation of oil hydrocarbons and resistance to toxic substances (e.g. heavy metals) are located on plasmids. It is possible, therefore, to modify PGPRP Pseudomonas to obtain variants with a wide range of necessary properties. Some new combinations of plasmids and host bacteria degrade polycyclic polyaromatic oil hydrocarbons more efficiently. The microorganisms, constructed using natural microbial isolates and plasmids via a horizontal transfer of genetic information (primarily by conjugation) inherent of living matter in nature, offer no threat to the environment. In all probability, the purposively created plant-PGPR Pseudomonas or plant-PGPRP-endomycorrhizae fungi combinations, can form the basis for further development of bioremedation technologies.