Observation of microorganisms in soil and other natural habitats.

A procedure is described for visually observing and following the activities and interactions of bacteria, actinomyctes, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and plant roots in masses of soil. Specific microscope components and objectives are used, and the numerical apertures are adjusted such that light diffraction colors are produced to allow differentiation of the various biological entities and their habitat materials. Strains or other alterations in the organisms and their habitat are not employed, and time-lapse photography can be used to follow the activities of soil microorganisms and plant roots. As a result of the use of this technique, it is apparent that in situ indigenous soil microorganisms differ from similar organisms grown in the laboratory, but that, under the proper conditions, the state of the organism in either habitat can be altered to match that which occurs in the contrasting habitat.