Anaerobic oxalate consumption by microorganisms in forest soils

Abstract

The microbial consumption of oxalate was examined under anaerobic conditions in soil suspensions at 15e20 _C. With soil (horizon Ah, pH 6.4) from a beech forest, microbial consumption of added oxalate (15 mM) began after 10 days, and oxalate was totally consumed by day 20. The presence of supplemental electron donors (acetate, glucose, vanillate, or hydrogen) or electron acceptors (nitrate or sulfate) did not significantly influence anaerobic oxalate consumption, whereas supplementation of soil suspensions with CO2/bicarbonate totally repressed oxalate consumption. Thus, CO2--, nitrate--or sulfate--respiring bacteria were apparently not active in the anaerobic consumption of oxalate in these soil suspensions. With soil (horizon Bt, pH 7) from a beech forest, oxalate consumption began after an approximate lag of 14 days, and oxalate was totally consumed by day 41. With both soils, acetate was the major aliphatic organic acid detected during oxalate consumption. Near pH--neutral soils from two additional forest field sites were also competent in anaerobic oxalate consumption. In contrast, anaerobic oxalate consumption was negligible in suspensions prepared with acidic soils (<pH 4.2) collected from three different forest field sites. These results suggest that forest soils and their resident microbial populations have different capacities relative to anaerobic oxalate consumption.

Isolation and characterization of oxalotrophic bacteria from tropical soils

“…Only a few studies have assessed the ecological role of cultivable oxalotrophic bacteria including a study carried out on anaerobic oxalotrophs in beech forest soils (Daniel et al 2007). This is relevant considering that oxalate and its salts are some of the most common organic salt found in soil (Tamer et al 2002), because of its production by many plant families (called collectively oxalogenic plants; Franceschi and Nakata 2005) and fungi (Dutton and Evans 1996).…”

Response of syntrophic bacterial and methanogenic archaeal communities in paddy soil to soil type and phenological period of rice growth

“…Syntrophobacter and Pelotomaculum) (McInerney et al, 2010). Oxalate can be degraded anaerobically to acetate, formate and CO2, which are all methanogenic precursors (Daniel et al, 2007). Citrate usually serves as a chelating agent for anaerobic bacteria (Rotaru et al, 2014).…”

Aliphatic, Cyclic, and Aromatic Organic Acids, Vitamins, and Carbohydrates in Soil: A Review

“…Forest soils differ in their abilities to anaerobically consume organic acids such as oxalate. The addition of electron donors (acetate, glucose, vanillate, or hydrogen) or acceptors (nitrate or sulphate) did not affect anaerobic consumption of oxalate, whereas CO 2 or bicarbonate totally repressed it [55]. …”