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Both plant species and CO₂ concentration can potentially affect rhizodeposition and consequently soil microbial activity and community composition. However, the effect differs based on plant developmental stage. We focused on the effect of three plant species (forbs, grasses, and N₂‐fixers) at an early stage of development on root C deposition and fate, soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization and soil microbial community composition at ambient (aCO₂) and elevated (eCO₂) CO₂ levels. Plants were grown from seed, under continuous ¹³C‐labelling atmospheres (400 and 800 µmol mol⁻¹ CO₂), in grassland soil for three weeks. At the end of the growth period, soil respiration, dissolved organic C (DOC) and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were quantified and isotopically partitioned into root‐ and soil‐derived components. Root‐derived DOC (0.53 ± 0.34 and 0.26 ± 0.29 µg mL soil solution⁻¹) and soil‐derived CO₂ (6.14 ± 0.55 and 5.04 ± 0.44 µg CO₂‐C h⁻¹) were on average two times and 22% higher at eCO₂ than at aCO₂, respectively. Plant species differed in exudate production at aCO₂ (0.11 ± 0.11, 0.10 ± 0.18, and 0.58 ± 0.58 µg mL soil solution⁻¹ for Plantago, Festuca, and Lotus, respectively) but not at eCO₂ (0.20 ± 0.28, 0.66 ± 0.32, and 0.75 ± 0.15 µg mL soil solution⁻¹ for Plantago, Festuca, and Lotus, respectively). However, no differences among plant species or CO₂ levels were apparent when DOC was expressed per gram of roots. Relative abundance of PLFAs did not differ between the two CO₂ levels. A higher abundance of actinobacteria and G‐positive bacteria occurred in unplanted (8.07 ± 0.48 and 24.36 ± 1.18 mol%) and Festuca‐affected (7.63 ± 0.31 and 23.62 ± 0.69 mol%) soil than in Plantago‐ (7.04 ± 0.36 and 23.41 ± 1.13 mol%) and Lotus‐affected (7.24 ± 0.17 and 23.13 ± 0.52 mol%) soil. In conclusion, the differences in root exudate production and soil respiration are mainly caused by differences in root biomass at an early stage of development. However, plant species evidently produce root exudates of varying quality affecting associated microbial community composition.

Without any doubt, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) represent an environmental risk for wildlife and human beings. Endocrine-disrupting effects were found for many chemicals in products for personal use, industrial compounds and even in classical persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In order to understand the fate of EDCs in the environment, it is highly important to identify and to clarify the biodegradation mechanisms that can lead to their decomposition. Ligninolytic fungi (LF) are interesting microorganisms that are capable of participating in a variety of versatile decomposition mechanisms. The microorganisms represent a useful model group and, moreover, LF or their enzymes can be actively used for decontamination. Potential optimization of the decontamination process provides another important reason why it is necessary for understanding the mechanisms of EDC transformation. This minireview summarizes current knowledge about the LF biodegradation mechanisms of the most important micropollutants (xenoestrogens), including nonylphenols, bisphenol A and 17α-ethinylestradiol and polychlorinated biphenyls as POPs with endocrine-disrupting potency. Generally, LF exhibit the ability to either polymerize the target pollutants or to substantially decompose the original structure using ligninolytic enzymes and cytochrome P-450. Moreover, most of the transformation processes are accompanied by reduction of the endocrine-disrupting activity or ecotoxicity.

LC with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (ACPI) MS with RP and chiral phase was used for separation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) from yeasts of the genera Candida, Kluyveromyces, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Torulospora, Trichosporon, and Yarrowia. Chiral LC-APCI-MS is based on using two columns in series packed with a 3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate modified β-cyclodextrin chiral phase. All regioisomers and enantiomers of TAGs containing one to five double bonds were separated. Molecular species of TAGs, i.e. regioisomers and enantiomers, were identified and quantified by MS/MS. Among the 94 identified TAGs, the most abundant were triolein, oleopalmitoleoolein, and dipalmitoleoolein. In strains producing palmitoleic acid in amounts >25% of total fatty acids (FAs), this acid, or unsaturated FA is bound in sn-1. In strains containing palmitoleic acid at 10-25% total FAs this acid is mainly bound in sn-3, saturated FA being bound in sn-1. Strains containing

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a synthetic compound that is used as a technological solution to problems created by air pollution from vehicle emissions. An important source of MTBE in the environment is leakage from underground storage tanks at gasoline stations or accidents during gasoline transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of MTBE leakage for the environment using the Microtox (Vibrio fischeri) toxicity test, Lactuca sativa seed germination test, and Ames bacterial mutagenicity test with Salmonella typhimurium his(-) strains TA98, TA100, YG1041, and YG1042, using both standard plate and preincubation protocols. The result of Microtox expressed as EC(50) was 33 mg (MTBE)/L. The effect of all tested MTBE concentration (0.05, 0.50, and 1.00% v/v) on Lactuca sativa roots elongation was negative and proved its toxicity. The highest tested concentration of MTBE that could be tested in Ames test was 3 mg (MTBE)/plate, because of cytotoxicity. No mutagenic response was observed at this or lower concentrations in any of the four strains used.