| title: | Genetic impact of bio- and phytoremediation on formation of microbial populations in oil- and phenol-polluted semi-coke fields |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5682 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.9. Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology 1.14. Ecology 2.7. Biotechnology, Food and Drink Technology |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | University of Tartu |
| head of project: | Ain Heinaru |
| duration: | 01.01.2004 - 31.12.2007 |
| description: | The main objective of the current project is to combine the biostimulation and bioaugmentation to initiate formation of bacterial populations able to lower high concentration of phenolic compounds and other toxic pollutants. As a result, we hope, that the semi-coke material in upper layer of the deposit area favor growth of some species of lawn grasses which continue remediation of semi-coke by phytoremediation. We are expecting to use such a combined approach at biotechnological treatment of semi-coke for further use in field and full-scale applications. Around the plant root area a new microbial populations are formed and at the same time soil suitable for growth of plants become to form. Under the selective pressure of phenolic pollution the diversity of new populations in context of degradative genes could be a good model for experimental ecological study of the diversity of microbial populations, the distribution of degradative genes and corresponding clusters of genes via horizontal gene transfer. In context of practical biotechnological application of new technologies it is important to answer the questions concerning the fate of introduced bacteria and its genes in nature. Using molecular techniques we are planning to study these problems, including possible horizontal gene transfer and distribution of degradative genes in natural conditions. Those are the other major objectives of our project.The final, and the most fundamental, objective of the project is the genetic and molecular genetic study of indigenous (isolated from the nature, from the study area) biodegradative bacteria we are expecting to use in nature in experimental semi-coke fields areas. The first reason of that is that we must know the genetic traits of bacteria we are re-releasing to the nature for monitoring the survival and also the possible gene transfer in natural conditions. Secondly, only the data of fundamental genetic experiments give the information needed for planning of microbiological experiments concerning efficient mixed cultivation of bacteria at decomposition of pollutants. The information from mixed cultivations is needed to choose the most favorite microbial combination at bioaugmentation experiments. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Ain Heinaru | University of Tartu | professor | |
| 2. | Eeva Heinaru | TÜ MRI | teadur | |
| 3. | Merike Merimaa | TÜ MRI | teadur | |
| 4. | Jaak Truu | TÜ MRI | teadur | |
| 5. | Eve Vedler | TÜ MRI | teadur | |
| 6. | Signe Viggor | TÜ MRI | erakorraline teadur | |