The root surface as the definitive detail for microbial transformation processes in constructed wetlands--a biofilm characteristic.

It was the goal of the investigations to characterise the biofilm on the plant roots because of the demonstrable major role of these associated bacteria. The essential criteria for the research were to look at the structure of the microbial colonisation (pattern, density) and to determine properties of the rhizoplane biofilm such as thickness and structure. The root material from a hydroponic system, planted with Glyceria maxima and used for nitrogen removal, has been used for the investigations. Several properties of the bacteria became visible due to the application of specific dyes. The evaluation of the samples was performed by scanning confocal laser microscopy (CLSM). It was shown that the microbial colonisation of the root surface of Glyceria maxima was on an unexpected high level and seems to be related mainly to the permeability and therefore to the age of the plant roots. The thickness of the rhizoplane biofilm is remarkably thin; no inactive layers could be observed in contrast to biofilm growing on technical carrier material. Caused by the untypically two-sided supply with nutrients the whole biofilm is in interaction with the surroundings. This indicates the importance of the plant roots for the microbial transformation processes in wetlands and underlines the especialness of the root as carrier for microorganisms.