Research Product

Over 100 isolates of representative estuarine bacteria and fungi were screened for their ability to grow in the presence of commercial preparations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Super absorbant sensitivity discs impregnated with up to 0.5 mg of PCB were placed on the surface of freshly inoculated solid media. Twenty-six bacteria, representing both gram-positive and gram-negative strains of varying morphology, showed varying degrees of sensitivity to PCB. In contrast to insensitive isolates, sensitive strains were mainly amylolytic and proteolytic. PCB had negligible effect on the growth of fungi. The sensitivity of select cultures of heterotrophic bacteria to PCB may be of considerable importance to nutrient turnover in estuarine ecosystems.