[(3)H]Leucine incorporation methodology to estimate epiphytic bacterial biomass production.

[(3)H]leucine incorporation into protein, as a method of measuring bacterial biomass production (BBP), was adapted to epiphytic bacteria. Incorporation of the isotope was saturated at concentrations higher than 400 nM. Disruption of thicker biofilms by sonication resulted in higher values of BBP and ratios of BBP/biomass when compared to those of intact biofilm. Thin biofilms formed early in the decomposition process did not show this phenomenon. These results support to evidence that more internally located cells of the matrices either have greatly reduced access to the leucine from the overlying medium or that fast recycling of leucine occurs in the biofilm.