Fungistatic activity of soil sterilized by gamma radiation
Soil samples collected from a cultivated field (loam) at University of Osaka Prefecture were sifted through screen (<2 mm). The moisture content of the sifted soil was about 30% of the moistureholding capacity. The soil samples of about 30 g were placed in 9-cm diameter petri dishes and then exposed to gamma radiation from 6 x 10/sup 4/ curies /sup 60/Co source for 3 h in a water bath. The radiation level was 5.1 x 10/sup 6/ roentgens. After irradiation, the microbial population in the soil was evaluated by the dilutionplate method. Ten grams of gamma-irradiated soil, diluted with sterile distilled water 1: 10/sup 3/ was used to determine fungal and bacterial counts. Fungi were counted on Martin's medium (Martin's original) and bacteria were counted on Thornton's medium. The results are tabulated and they indicate that 5.1 x 10/sup 6/ roentgens are enough to kill all fungi and bacteria. Soil in petri dishes was autoclaved at 123 deg C for 20 min and used as a control. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Osaka Prefecture, Japan
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-026994
- OSTI ID:
- 4338741
- Journal Information:
- Can. J. Microbiol., v. 19, no. 10, pp. 1333-1334, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74; Bib. Info. Source: CAN (Atomic Energy Commission Limited)
- Country of Publication:
- Canada
- Language:
- English
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