Use of Endophytic Bacteria for Growth Promotion and Toxicity Resistance in Leachate Treated Poplar Trees
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program; NIH - NIEHS Superfund Research Program, Project # 5R01ES016158
Abstract
The goal of this research is to determine if Enterobacter 638, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1, or Methylobacterium populi can improve growth and toxicity resistance in poplar trees used for phytoremediation of landfill leachate. Phytoremediation of the leachate can help prevent contamination of surrounding soil and water. Cuttings of three different poplar tree hybrids were inoculated with the endophytes, planted and watered with various concentrations of leachate. The growth and water usage of the trees were recorded and trees were harvested at different time intervals. Root samples were obtained and placed in a freezer to save for analysis. The roots were surface sterilized and processed for plating and incubation. We hypothesized that, tolerance to the leachate would correlate with increased endosymbiont growth and predicted that recovery of the inoculants from the root samples should also increase.
Biography
Ashley Muehler is a junior at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is pursuing her Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. Ashley is a member of the national honor society, Phi Kappa Phi. She is also a member of the biological sciences honor society of Phi Sigma and life sciences club Helix. Ashley is pursuing a career in the research industry.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Sciences poster session, First place
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
07 Apr 2010, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Use of Endophytic Bacteria for Growth Promotion and Toxicity Resistance in Leachate Treated Poplar Trees
Upper Atrium/Hallway
The goal of this research is to determine if Enterobacter 638, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1, or Methylobacterium populi can improve growth and toxicity resistance in poplar trees used for phytoremediation of landfill leachate. Phytoremediation of the leachate can help prevent contamination of surrounding soil and water. Cuttings of three different poplar tree hybrids were inoculated with the endophytes, planted and watered with various concentrations of leachate. The growth and water usage of the trees were recorded and trees were harvested at different time intervals. Root samples were obtained and placed in a freezer to save for analysis. The roots were surface sterilized and processed for plating and incubation. We hypothesized that, tolerance to the leachate would correlate with increased endosymbiont growth and predicted that recovery of the inoculants from the root samples should also increase.
Comments
Joint project with Crystal Halloran