Effect of Cu on Pigmentation and Survival of Pseudomonas stutzeri
Aliya Hayat¹, Rafia Azmat²* and Farha Aziz³¹Department of Microbiology, 1,3Jinnah University for Women 5C Nazimabad - 746 00 Karachi (Pakistan). University of Karachi, Karachi - 757 20 (Pakistan).
²*Department of Chemistry, 1,3Jinnah University for Women 5C Nazimabad - 746 00 Karachi (Pakistan). University of Karachi, Karachi - 757 20 (Pakistan).
³Department of Biochemistry, 1,3Jinnah University for Women 5C Nazimabad - 746 00 Karachi (Pakistan). University of Karachi, Karachi - 757 20 (Pakistan).
Abstract: Pseudomonas stutzeri is an aerobic, green fluorescent bacterium which secretes green pigment in aerobic condition. In this article the release of bluish-green, luminous, water -soluble stain by P. stutzeri was discussed in presence of Cu metal in relation with the survival of P.stutzeri in nutrient medium. The activity of Pseudomonas stutzeri was monitored in provisions of colors of pigment with varying concentrations of Cu metal in petri dish. Results showed a variation in colors of pigment with different concentration of Cu metal. It was light green with water while colourless at high concentration of metal and blue with the moderate concentration of Cu. It was observed that high concentration of Cu results in the death of all microorganisms may be due to the reaction of Cu with oxygen or Cu responsible to decrease the BOD which ultimately affects the biosynthesis of pigment. No color of Cu with any life of Pseudomonas stutzeri at high dose also indicates that the Cu adsorbed on dead mass of bacterial strain. Less microbial life at low and moderate concentration of Cu with blue color reflects that Cu may be bonded with the pigment. It was concluded that Cu2+ was bactericidal to the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri in the micromolar range which inhibits the biosynthesis of pigment at high concentration and bacteria experience death. It was suggested that pigmentation property of Pseudomonas stutzeri can be used as a monitoring tool of contaminated soil by heavy metals.
Keywords: Pseudomonas stutzeri; pigment; Cu Back to TOC