Determination of Poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate in Peat. Issue 5 (9th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dowrick, D. J.; Yusoff, F. Md.; Gough, R.; Freeman, C.
• Is Part Of: Communications in soil science and plant analysis. Volume 48:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 576
• Page End: 580
• Publication Date: 2017-03-09
• Subjects: High performance liquid chromatography -- microbes -- peatland -- poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate; Soil science -- Periodicals; Plants -- Chemical analysis -- Periodicals; Agricultural chemistry -- Periodicals; 631.405
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2017.1282506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-3624

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a prokaryotic energy reserve material that has been used as an indicator of environmental stress in aquatic bacteria. The following technique has been used to quantify PHA in peatland microorganisms. Peat samples were dried, digested in sulphuric acid to convert PHA into crotonic acid, and the resulting acid determined using organic acid high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) detection at 214 nm. This technique is suggested to have potential value as an indicator of environmental stress on peatland microorganisms, such as that caused by summer drought, or changes in soil nutrient availability, which are predicted consequences of climatic change.