SURVIVAL AND IMPACT OF GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA HARBORING MERCURY RESISTANCE GENE IN SOIL MICROCOSMS

The survival of genetically engineered and wild-type Pseudomonas putid a PpY101, that contained a recombinant plasmid pSR134 conferring mercu ry resistance, were monitored in andosol and sand microcosms. The surv ival of genetically engineered and wild-type P. putida was not signifi cantly different in andosol. The population change of the two strains was dissimilar in andosol and sand. The survival of genetically engine ered and wild-type P. putida strains was affected by the water content of andosol, and increased with the increment of the water content. Th e impact of the addition of genetically engineered and wild-type P. pu tida strains on indigenous bacteria and fungi was examined. Inoculatio n of both strains had no apparent effect on the density of indigenous microorganisms.