GROWTH OF PCB-DEGRADING BACTERIA ON COMPOUNDS FROM PHOTOSYNTHETIC PLANTS

Compounds produced by photosynthetic plants were shown to support the growth of PCB-degrading bacteria, and the organisms retained their ability to metabolize PCBs. These results indicate that the rhizosphere zone surrounding the roots of some plant species may selectively foster the growth of PCB-degrading microbes. Thus, introduction of a carefully selected plant species at PCB-contaminated sites has promise as a new means of enhancing and maintaining microbial degradation of PCBs.