AEROBACTIN PRODUCTION BY A PLANKTONIC MARINE VIBRIO SP

Production of siderophores by marine bacteria could potentially contri bute to metal complexation by organic compounds in seawater. Direct is olation of planktonic marine bacteria on siderophore indicator plates showed that siderophore producers are prcsent. The siderophore-produci ng organisms that could be detected on this medium were more numerous in the mixed layer than in deeper water at this sampling site. One str ain (DS40M5) was characterized and found to be a marine Vibrio sp. A s iderophore produced by Vibrio sp. DS40M5 is aerobactin, a compound not previously known from planktonic marine bacteria.