Bacterial endophyte-mediated naphthalene phytoprotection and phytoremediation.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major and recalcitrant pollutants of the environment and their removal presents a significant problem. Phytoremediation has shown much promise in PAH removal from contaminated soil, but may be inhibited because the plant experiences phytotoxic effects from low-molecular-weight PAHs such as naphthalene. This paper describes the construction of a naphthalene-degrading endophytic strain designated Pseudomonas putida VM1441(pNAH7).

Colonisation of poplar trees by gfp expressing bacterial endophytes.

With the exception of nitrogen fixing bacteria, there is little known about the colonisation patterns or population sizes of bacterial endophytes in deciduous trees. This study describes the isolation, identification, construction and re-colonisation patterns of three green fluorescent protein(gfp):kanamycin(R) labelled bacterial endophytes when re-introduced into poplar trees, their original host plant. Two of these endophytes showed considerable colonisation in the roots and stems of inoculated plants.