title: Acetate synthesis in soil from a bavarian beech forest.
abstract: Soil obtained from a beech forest formed significant amounts of acetate when incubated in a bicarbonate-buffered, mineral salt solution under anaerobic conditions at both 5 and 20 degrees C (21 and 38 g of acetate per kg [dry weight] of soil, respectively). At 20 degrees C, following an 18-day lag period, rates of 0.07 mmol of acetate synthesized per g (dry weight) of soil per day were observed. Acetate was not subject to immediate turnover; methane and hydrogen were not formed during the time intervals (5 degrees C, 335 days; 20 degrees C, 95 days) evaluated. The synthesis of acetate from endogenous materials was coincident with acetogenic potentials, i.e., the capacity to catalyze the H(2)-dependent synthesis of acetate. Hydrogen consumption was not directed towards the synthesis of methane. Collectively, these results suggest that acetogenesis may be an underlying microbial activity of this forest soil.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Okologische Mikrobiologie, BITOK, Universität Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Küsel
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Drake