Biotechnological potential of aquatic plant-microbe interactions.
The rhizosphere in terrestrial systems is the region of soil surrounding plant roots where there is increased microbial activity; in aquatic plants, this definition may be less clear because of diffusion of nutrients in water, but there is still a zone of influence by plant roots in this environment [1]. Within that zone chemical conditions differ from those of the surrounding environment as a consequence of a range of processes that were induced either directly by the activity of plant roots or by the activity of rhizosphere microflora. Recently, there are a number of new studies related to rhizospheres of aquatic plants and specifically their increased potential for remediation of contaminants, especially remediation of metals through aquatic plant-microbial interaction.
Stout
L
L
Department of Biology, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT 06515, United States. stoutl1@southernct.edu
Nüsslein
K
K
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*