Abstract
This thesis describes a study on the interaction between plants and bacteria on a copper polluted substrate was carried out. This study included 2 parts: 1) a 'in vitro' laboratory study on the capacities of model bacterium C. metallidurans CH34 to interact with model plant Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (part of the Solanaceae family), and 2) a 'in situ' field-based study aiming to look at the interactions between natural cuprophytic plants and in metal-resistant bacteria in the metal rich mining areas of Katanga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The capacity of soil bacterium C. metallidurans CH34 to colonise the plant Nicotiana plumbaginifolia was demonstrated, and it was even shown to have plant growth promoting properties in some culture conditions. Furthermore, new metal resistant plant-associated bacteria originating from Katanga soil and plants were characterised and described.
The molecular biology and ecology of plant-bacteria interactions and of metal resistance mechanisms described in this work may pave the way for new applications in bioremediation (phytostabilization/phytoextraction of toxic metals).
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | Brussels, Belgium |
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State | Published - 26 Aug 2010 |