Szabo, E., 2003. The Use of the Tetrazolium Reduction Test for the Detection of the Terminal Electron Transport System (ETS) Activity in Decomposing Reed (Phragmites australis /Cav./ Trin. ex Steud.) Rhizome, Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Reprinted with permission from International Journal of Limnology (2003) 39(1): 63-70

Tetrazolium reduction and enzyme kinetics wee examined to estimate the ETS activity of decomposing reed (Phragmites australis /Cav./ Trin. ex Steud.) rhizome to collect information on the activity of microbial decomposers.  Optimal incubation time was determined at 22ºC.  For complete enzyme extraction, 4-6 min. of homogenization was necessary.  The main substrate of the enzymatic reaction were NADH and NADPH.  The reaction was fastest when 2-(-p-iodophenyl)-3-(-p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride (INT ; 0.8mM), NADPH (0.25mM) and NADH (1.7mM) were applied simultaneously.  The optimal incubation time should be less than 20 minutes.  The pH optimum of the enzyme reaction is 8.0-8.4.  ETS activity of  decomposing reed rhizome can be used to estimate potentially the oxygen consumption of microorganisms involved in decomposition and, indirectly, the rate of decomposition.

Entire Paper
Contact: E. Szabo, Hungarian Danube Res Stn, Inst Ecol & Bot, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Alkotmany Str 2-4, H-2163 Vacratot, Hungary
Key Words: Common_Reed, Basic_biology
Product Type: Research, Basic_biology
User Type: General