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Scanning Electron Microscopy of Rhizobium spp. Adhering to Fine Silt Particles¹

ABSTRACT

Bacterial polysaccharides binding to soil particles were observed with the scanning electron microscope. The bacteria were grown in shake culture with dispersed silt particles (2–5 µm) to promote polysaccharide-soil particle interactions. Species of Rhizobium were used because of their abundant polysaccharide production. The mucilagenous polysaccharides exhibited connective networks that joined particles to one another and also to bacteria. Aggregates of particles were seen only when bacterial polysaccharides were present. These micrographs provide visual evidence of the binding action of bacterial polysaccharides to soil particles.

¹ This research was conducted under Hatch projects 1883 and 3121 at The Texas Agric. Exp. Stn.

² Research Associate and Associate Professor, respectively, Dep. of Soil & Crop Sci., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77840.

Received for publication July 5, 1977. Accepted for publication November 7, 1977.