Mechanism of insoluble phosphate solubilization by Pseudomonas fluorescens RAF15 isolated from ginseng rhizosphere and its plant growth-promoting activities

Aims:  To investigate the mechanism of insoluble phosphate (P) solubilization and plant growth-promoting activity by Pseudomonas fluorescens RAF15.
Methods and Results:  We investigated the ability of Ps. fluorescens RAF15 to solubilize insoluble P via two possible mechanisms: proton excretion by ammonium assimilation and organic acid production. There were no clear differences in pH and P solubilization between glucose-ammonium and glucose-nitrate media. P solubilization was significantly promoted with glucose compared to fructose. Regardless of nitrogen sources used, Ps. fluorescens RAF15 solubilized little insoluble P with fructose. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that Ps. fluorescens RAF15 produced mainly gluconic and tartaric acids with small amounts of 2-ketogluconic, formic and acetic acids. During the culture, the pH was reduced with increase in gluconic acid concentration and was inversely correlated with soluble P concentration. Ps. fluorescens RAF1 showed the properties related to plant growth promotion: pectinase, protease, lipase, siderophore, hydrogen cyanide, and indoleacetic acid.
Conclusion:  This study indicated that the P solubility was directly correlated with the organic acids produced.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Pseudomonas fluorescens RAF15 possessed different traits related to plant growth promotion. Therefore, Ps. fluorescens RAF15 could be a potential candidate for the development of biofertilizer or biocontrol agent.     

Substrate specificity of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) of Enterobacter asburiae PSI3 and rock phosphate solubilization with GDH substrates as C sources

Enterobacter asburiae PSI3 is a rhizospheric isolate that solubilizes mineral phosphates by the action of a phosphate starvation-inducible GDH (EC 1.1.5.2). We report here that GDH activity of this isolate shows broad substrate range, being able to act on mono and disaccharides. Enterobacter asburiae PSI3 was proficient at bringing about a drop in pH and solubilization of RP with the use of 75 mmol/L of each of the GDH substrate sugars tested as the sole C source. It liberated amounts of P ranging from 450 micromol/L (on arabinose) to 890 micromol/L (on glucose). When grown on a mixture of 7 GDH substrates at concentrations of 15 mmol/L each, the bacterium solubilized RP equivalent to 46% of the value when 75 mmol glucose/L was the C source. HPLC analysis of the culture supernatant under these conditions showed that the acidification of the media is primarily due to the production of organic acids. The significance of these results on the efficacy of E. asburiae PSI3 at solubilizing phosphates under rhizospheric conditions is discussed.     

Interaction of arsenic and phosphate on their uptake and accumulation in Chinese brake fern

Interactive effects of arsenate (As (V)) and phosphate (Pi) were investigated under hydroponic culture. Arsenic concentrations in fronds and roots of Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata L.) significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing As (V), but decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing Pi in nutrient solution. Phosphate uptake was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by 1000 micromol L(-1) As (V). Under 100 micromol L(-1) As (V), frond phosphorus (P) increased at 100 and 1000 micromol L(-1) Pi, and root P increased at 250 micromol L(-1) Pi exposures. Arsenic and P concentrations in fronds and roots of Chinese brake fern were negatively correlated (p < 0.05). Arsenate treatments enhanced As and P transport to fronds, while increasing Pi inhibited their transportation, with highest frond P and As (%) obtained under 100 micromol L(-1) treatment. pH values in nutrient solution increased with increasing exposure time, but decreased with increasing Pi levels. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents (dry weight) in nutrient solution decreased with increasing Pi levels, both for treatments with and without As (V). Arsenate at 1000 micromol L(-1) significantly (p < 0.05) increased DOC contents, especially for treatment without Pi. Six organic acids were detected in root exudates of Chinese brake fern, with oxalic and malic acids being most dominant.     

Influence of Calcium, Iron, and pH on Phosphate Availability for Microbial Mineralization of Organic Chemicals

A study was conducted to determine some of the factors affecting the P requirement for the biodegradation of p-nitrophenol, phenol, and glucose by Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium strains. Mineralization of glucose was rapid and the Pseudomonas sp. grew extensively in solutions with 5 and 10 mM phosphate, but the rate and extent of degradation were low and the bacterial population never became abundant in media with 0.2 mM phosphate. Similar results were obtained with the Corynebacterium sp. growing in media containing p-nitrophenol or phenol and in solutions with a purified phosphate salt. The extent of growth of the Corynebacterium sp. was reduced with 2 or 10 mM phosphate in media containing high Fe concentrations. Ca at 5 mM but not 0.5 mM inhibited p-nitrophenol mineralization by the Corynebacterium sp. with phosphate concentrations from 0.2 to 5.0 mM. Phenol mineralization by the Pseudomonas sp. in medium with 0.2 mM phosphate was rapid at pH 5.2, but the bacteria had little or no activity at pH 8.0. In contrast, the activity was greater at pH 8.0 than at pH 5.2 when the culture contained 10 mM phosphate. These effects of pH were similar in media with 5 mM Ca or no added Ca. We conclude that the effect of P on bacterial degradation can be influenced by the pH and the concentrations of Fe and Ca.     

Variation in the Nature of Organic Acid Secretion and Mineral Phosphate Solubilization by Citrobacter sp. DHRSS in the Presence of Different Sugars

A novel phosphate solubilizing bacterium (PSB) was isolated from the rhizosphere of sugarcane and is capable of utilizing sucrose and rock phosphate as the sole carbon and phosphate source, respectively. This PSB exhibited mineral phosphate solubilizing (MPS) phenotype on sugars such as sucrose and fructose, which are not substrates for enzyme glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), along with GDH substrates, viz., glucose, xylose, and maltose, as carbon sources. PCR amplification of the rRNA gene and sequence analysis identified this bacterium as Citrobacter sp. DHRSS. On sucrose and fructose Citrobacter sp. DHRSS liberated 170 and 100 μM free phosphate from rock phosphate and secreted 49 mM (2.94 g/L) and 35 mM (2.1 g/L) acetic acid, respectively. Growth of Citrobacter sp. DHRSS on sucrose is mediated by an intracellular inducible neutral invertase. Interestingly, in the presence of GDH substrates like glucose and maltose, Citrobacter sp. DHRSS produced approximately 20 mM (4.36 g/L) gluconic acid and phosphate released was 520 and 570 μM, respectively. Citrobacter sp. DHRSS GDH activity was found when grown on GDH and non-GDH substrates, indicating that it is constitutive and could act on a wide range of aldose sugars. This study demonstrates the role of different organic acids in mineral phosphate solubilization by rhizobacteria depending on the nature of the available carbon source.     

Possible role of the polyuronic components in accumulation and mobilization of iron and phosphate at the soil--root interface.

With the aim to investigate the role of the polyuronic components in the accumulation of iron and phosphate at the soil-root interface, the interactions of Ca-polygalacturonates (PGAs) with Fe(III) and P ions and of Fe(III)-Ca-polygalacturonates (Fe-PGAs) with P ions were studied at pH 4.7. The role of citric, malic and pyruvic acids in the mobilization of Fe(III) and P, in the presence and absence of Ca(II) 2.5mM, was also investigated. The sorption kinetics evidenced that P diffuses freely through the calcium polysaccharidic matrix whereas Fe(III) accumulates as an hydroxypolymer. The sorption kinetics of P by the Fe-PGA indicated that the amount of P sorbed increases with increasing its initial concentration up to a constant value equal to 0.98micromol/3.87micromolmg(-1) of Fe(III)-polymer trapped. The FT-IR spectra of the P-Fe-PGA systems, show bands attributable to P-O(H) stretching vibrations. The study of systems with a constant initial P amount and varying Fe(III) amounts allowed to hypothesize that phosphate settles down inside holes formed by the carboxylate groups of galacturonic units. Citric and malic acids showed to be active in the mobilization of both Fe and P whereas pyruvic acid appeared inactive.     

Quantification of sugar phosphate intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway by LC-MS/MS: application to two new inherited defects of metabolism

We describe a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to quantify pentose phosphate pathway intermediates (triose-3-phosphates, tetrose-4-phosphate, pentose-5-phosphate, pentulose-5-phosphates, hexose-6-phosphates and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate (sed-7P)) in bloodspots, fibroblasts and lymphoblasts. Liquid chromatography was performed using an ion pair loaded C(18) HPLC column and detection of the sugar phosphates was carried out by tandem mass spectrometry using an electron ion spray source operating in the negative mode and multiple reaction monitoring. Reference values for the pentose phosphate pathway intermediates in blood spots, fibroblasts and lymphoblasts were established. The method was applied to cells from patients affected with a deficiency of transaldolase. The transaldolase-deficient cells showed an increased concentration of sedoheptulose-7-phosphate. (Bloodspots: 5.19 and 5.43 micromol/L [0.49-3.33 micromol/L]; fibroblasts 7.43 and 26.46 micromol/mg protein [0.31-1.14 micromol/mg protein]; lymphoblasts 16.03 micromol/mg protein [0.61-2.09 micromol/mg protein].) The method was also applied to study enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway by incubating fibroblasts or lymphoblasts homogenates with ribose-5-phosphate or 6-phosphogluconate and the subsequent analysis of the formed sugar phosphates.     

New culture media to suppress exopolysaccharide production by Rhizobium japonicum

Summary Secretion of exopolysaccharide by Rhizobium japonicum strain USDA 110 ws measured during growth on media comprising 12.5 mM MES [2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid] buffer, pH 5.9; 5 mM NH₄Cl; trace elements; and 25 or 100 mM of one of 23 different carbon sources. Significant amounts of exopolysaccharide were produced on all aldopentoses, polyols, organic acids, and sugar acids tested, but little or none was secreted during growth on aldohexoses or amino acids. Media suitable for routine slime-free culture of several. R. japonicum strains were made by using 100 mM d-galactose or 25 mM l-aspartate as the carbon source.     

Optimization of culture conditions and comparison of biomass productivity of three green algae

Culture conditions for the mass production of three green algae, Chlorella sp., Dunaliella salina DCCBC2 and Dunaliella sp., were optimized using a response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design was applied to investigate the effects of initial pH, nitrogen and phosphate concentrations on the cultivation of microalgae. The optimal growth conditions estimated from the design are as follows: Chlorella sp. (initial pH 7.2, ammonium 17 mM, phosphate 1.2 mM), D. salina DCCBC2 (initial pH 8.0, nitrate 3.3 mM, phosphate 0.0375 mM) and Dunaliella sp. (initial pH 8.0, nitrate 3.7 mM, phosphate 0.17 mM). Culturing the microalgae with the optimized conditions confirmed that the maximum growth rates were attained for these parameters. The optimum CO(2) concentrations of Chlorella sp., D. salina DCCBC2 and Dunaliella sp. were 1.0, 3.0 and 1.0% (v/v), respectively. The specific growth rates (μ) of Chlorella sp., D. salina DCCBC2 and Dunaliella sp. were 0.58, 0.78 and 0.56 day(-1), respectively, and the biomass productivities were 0.28, 0.54 and 0.30 g dry cell wt l(-1) day(-1), respectively. The CO(2) fixation rates of Chlorella sp., D. salina DCCBC2 and Dunaliella sp. were 42.8, 90.9 and 45.5 mg l(-1) day(-1), respectively. Mixotrophic cultivation of Chlorella sp. with glucose increased biomass productivity from 0.28 to 0.51 g dry cell wt l(-1) day(-1). However, D. salina DCCBC2 and Dunaliella sp. were not stimulated by several organic compounds tested.     

D-Malic enzyme of Pseudomonas fluorescens

By the enrichment culture technique 14 gram-negative bacteria and two yeast strains were isolated that used D(+)-malic acid as sole carbon source. The bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes. In cell-free extracts of P. fluorescens and P. putida the presence of malate dehydrogenase, D-malic enzyme (NAD-dependent) and L-malic enzyme (NADP-dependent) was demonstrated. D-Malic enzyme from P. fluorescens was purified. Stabilization of the enzyme by 50 mM ammonium sulphate an 1 mM EDTA was essential. Preparation of D-malic enzyme that gave one band with disc gel electrophoresis showed a specific activity of 4-5 U/mg. D-Malic enzyme requires divalent cations. The Km values were for malate Km = 0.3 mM and for NAD Km = 0.08 mM. The pH optimum for the reaction was found to be in the range of pH 8.1 to pH 8.8. D-Malic enzyme is partially inhibited by oxaloacetic acid, meso-tartaric acid, D-lactic acid and ATP. Determined by gel filtration and gradient gel electrophoresis, the molecular weight was approximately 175 000.     

一株节杆菌溶解磷矿粉的动态

磷矿粉用量明显地影响节杆菌1TCRi7菌株对其溶解,随着磷矿粉用量的增加,溶磷率急剧下降,超过5 g/L,溶磷率不到0.1%,培养液的pH也随磷矿粉用量增加而升高,但菌体生长繁殖几乎不受磷矿粉用量的影响。振荡培养时,第1 d菌体繁殖量就达到高峰,pH也降至最低,同时表现出强烈的溶磷活力,但菌株的溶磷量并不与其生长量吻合,溶磷量第9 d才达到高峰,以后逐渐下降。培养过程中有机酸分泌发生交替变化,主要分泌乙酸和丙二酸。第1 d、第9 d和第15 d出现3个峰值,说明微生物利用了所分泌出来的有机酸,并发生了有机酸代谢的变化。     

4种外生菌根真菌对难溶性磷酸盐的溶解能力

以红绒盖牛肝菌(Xerocomus chrysenteron)、美味牛肝菌(Boletus edulis)、黄须腹(Rhizopogen luteous)和劣味乳菇(Lactarius insulsus)4种外生菌根真菌为对象,在纯培养条件下比较它们对4种难溶性磷酸盐[Ca_3(PO_4)_2、Ca_(10)(PO_4)_6(OH)_2、FePO_4·4H_2O和AlPO_4]的溶解能力,以探讨外生菌根真菌对难溶性磷酸盐的溶解作用及其影响因素.结果表明:(1)4种外生菌根真菌均能在Ca_3(PO_4)_2为唯一磷源的NBRIP平板上生长,但生长速率明显不同,且红绒盖牛肝菌生长速率最快.(2) 4种菌根真菌对4种磷酸盐的溶解能力存在显著差异,红绒盖牛肝菌发酵液可溶性磷含量大多显著高于对照和其他菌根真菌,对磷酸盐的溶解能力最强.(3)4种菌根真菌发酵液可滴定酸度(2.30～46.00 mmol·L~(-1))和pH(4.57～6.99)与其溶磷量分别呈极显著正相关(r=0.991**)和极显著负相关(r=-0.939**).(4)4种外生菌根真菌均能分泌乙酸、柠檬酸和反丁烯二酸,且它们分泌有机酸总量(14.14～1 537.46 mg·L~(-1))与其溶磷量呈显著正相关(r=0.998*).研究发现, 4种外生菌根真菌发酵液可滴定酸度、pH和有机酸的种类与含量是影响其溶解Ca_3(PO_4)_2能力的主要因素;红绒盖牛肝菌的溶磷能力较强,具有应用于中国土壤缺磷地区造林的潜力.     

Arsenic-resistant bacteria solubilized arsenic in the growth media and increased growth of arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L

The role of arsenic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in arsenic solubilization from growth media and growth enhancement of arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. was examined. Seven ARB (tolerant to 10 mM arsenate) were isolated from the P. vittata rhizosphere and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Pseudomonas sp., Comamonas sp. and Stenotrophomonas sp. During 7-d hydroponic experiments, these bacteria effectively solubilized arsenic from the growth media spiked with insoluble FeAsO? and AlAsO? minerals (from < 5 μg L?1 to 5.04-7.37 mg L?1 As) and enhanced plant arsenic uptake (from 18.1-21.9 to 35.3-236 mg kg?1 As in the fronds). Production of (1) pyochelin-type siderophores by ARB (fluorescent under ultraviolet illumination and characterized with thin layer chromatography) and (2) root exudate (dissolved organic C) by P. vittata may be responsible for As solubilization. Increase in P. vittata root biomass from 1.5-2.2 to 3.4-4.2 g/plant dw by ARB and by arsenic was associated with arsenic-induced plant P uptake. Arsenic resistant bacteria may have potential to enhance phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils by P. vittata.     

Cyanide production by Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Of 200 water isolates screened, five strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and one strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cyanogenic. Maximum cyanogenesis by two strains of P. fluorescens in a defined growth medium occurred at 25 to 30 degrees C over a pH range of 6.6 to 8.9. Cyanide production per cell was optimum at 300 mM phosphate. A linear relationship was observed between cyanogenesis and the log of iron concentration over a range of 3 to 300 microM. The maximum rate of cyanide production occurred during the transition from exponential to stationary growth phase. Radioactive tracer experiments with [1-14C]glycine and [2-14C]glycine demonstrated that the cyanide carbon originates from the number 2 carbon of glycine for both P. fluorescens and P. aeruginosa. Cyanide production was not observed in raw industrial wastewater or in sterile wastewater inoculated with pure cultures of cyanogenic Pseudomonas strains. Cyanide was produced when wastewater was amended by the addition of components of the defined growth medium.     

草酸青霉YTY及其突变体解磷能力、pH和分泌有机酸的关系

本研究利用离子束-UV复合诱变草酸青霉YTY选育高效解磷突变体,分析了出发菌株YTY及其突变体解磷过程中的解磷能力、pH和有机酸的变化及其相关性,探讨草酸青霉的解磷机理。结果表明: 离子束-UV复合诱变选育获得5株高效解磷突变株P9-8、P9-9、P15-4、P15-6和P15-7,解磷能力均较YTY提高60%以上。解磷过程中突变株解磷能力及解磷速率均高于YTY,而pH显著低于YTY,同时,突变体分泌有机酸种类及含量发生了不同程度的变化,突变体和YTY均可分泌乳酸、乙酸和草酸,P9-8还产生了柠檬酸。皮尔逊相关分析显示,YTY及5株突变株的解磷能力和pH值呈显著负相关;YTY及其突变体(P15-4除外)的解磷能力与有机酸浓度和pH呈显著相关。分泌有机酸和降低环境pH值可能是草酸青霉解磷的内在机制,离子束-UV复合诱变可引起草酸青霉YTY有机酸分泌种类和分泌量的变化,还可能诱发YTY启动其他H⁺释放途径降低pH参与解磷。本研究为高效解磷青霉的开发及青霉解磷机理阐明提供了生物材料及理论依据。     

Cyanide production by Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Of 200 water isolates screened, five strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and one strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cyanogenic. Maximum cyanogenesis by two strains of P. fluorescens in a defined growth medium occurred at 25 to 30 degrees C over a pH range of 6.6 to 8.9. Cyanide production per cell was optimum at 300 mM phosphate. A linear relationship was observed between cyanogenesis and the log of iron concentration over a range of 3 to 300 microM. The maximum rate of cyanide production occurred during the transition from exponential to stationary growth phase. Radioactive tracer experiments with [1-14C]glycine and [2-14C]glycine demonstrated that the cyanide carbon originates from the number 2 carbon of glycine for both P. fluorescens and P. aeruginosa. Cyanide production was not observed in raw industrial wastewater or in sterile wastewater inoculated with pure cultures of cyanogenic Pseudomonas strains. Cyanide was produced when wastewater was amended by the addition of components of the defined growth medium.     

Enhanced solubilization of rock phosphate by Penicillium bilaiae in pH-buffered solution culture

Little is known about how pH-buffering capacity affects phosphorus (P) solubilization by Penicillium bilaiae. This study compared solubilization of rock phosphate (RP) by P. bilaiae in nonbuffered (pH 5.0) and buffered (pH 7.0) media. Fungal growth reached the stationary phase around day 12 and was slightly enhanced in the buffered medium. The fungus reduced solution pH from 5.0 to 4.1 in the nonbuffered medium and from 7.0 to 4.9 in the buffered medium by day 12. Phosphorus concentrations increased after day 9 more in the buffered than in the nonbuffered media (53 and 5 mg P x L(-1), respectively, on day 12). On day 12, higher concentrations of citric and oxalic acids were detected in the buffered (2.0 and 1.2 g x L(-1), respectively) than nonbuffered media (0.5 and 0.04 g x L(-1), respectively). Solubilization of RP was simulated without P. bilaiae in solutions equivalent to the nonbuffered and buffered cultures of P. bilaiae grown with RP. After a 24 h incubation, the P concentrations were of similar magnitudes to those observed in the P. bilaiae culture (18 and 47 mg P x L(-1), respectively, in the nonbuffered and buffered media). Under increased pH-buffering conditions, the enhanced production of citric and oxalic acids led to significant RP solubilization.     

Studies on mineral phosphate solubilization by cyanobacteria Westiellopsis and Anabaena

Two diazotrophic cyanobacteria, Westiellopsis prolifica and Anabaena variabilis were evaluated for elucidating the possible mechanism of mineral phosphate solubilization. Phosphate starved cyanobacteria evaluated for the presence of organic acids, extracellular compounds or enzymes that might have been produced and promoted the mineral phosphate solubilization with Mussorie Rock Phosphate and Tricalcium Phosphate as substrates. Both the cultures did not reveal production of organic acids throughout the incubation period when checked for decrease in pH of the media and thin layer chromatography Thin layer chromatography of culture filtrates showed the presence of hydrocarbon like compound. Further analysis of the culture filtrates with gas liquid chromatography, a single peak near to the retention time of 7.6 was observed in all extracts of culture filtrates irrespective of phosphate source. UV-visible spectra of culture filtrates revealed the absorption maxima of 276 nm. Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric analysis of culture filtrates showed most intense peak in the electron impact (EI) ionization was at m/z 149 and molecular ion peaks at m/z 207 and 167, inferring the presence of phthalic acid. Among the mechanisms in mineral phosphate solubilization, it was evident that these cyanobacteria used phthalic acid as possible mode of P solubilization.     

Effect of N concentration and N source on root colonization by Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79RLI

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in nutrient solution with low or high N supply (NH₄NO₃ as N source). To further evaluate the influence of N form and its interaction with the nutrient solution pH, wheat plants were grown with NH ₄ ⁺ or NO ₃ ^- either in an conventional nutrient solution or in a nutrient solution in which the pH was maintained at pH 6.5 using a pH-stat system. The nutrient solution was inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79RLI, a genetically modified bacterium that contains lux genes activated by a ribosomal promoter. Cell numbers and physiological status of P. fluorescens 2-79RLI (length of the lag phase of bioluminescence) in the rhizosphere were determined at the root tip and in the lateral root zone. Nitrogen deficiency decreased both plant growth and root colonization by P. fluorescens 2-79RLI at the root tip while it had no effect on root colonization in the lateral root zone. The physiological status of P. fluorescens 2-79RLI was not affected by nitrogen deficiency. Ammonium nutrition increased root colonization by P. fluorescens 2-79RLI at the root tip and in the lateral root zone when the pH of the nutrient solution was allowed to change according to the N form provided. Under these conditions, the physiological status of P. fluorescens 2-79RLI was higher in the lateral root zone than at the root tip. In contrast, N source had no effect on root colonization or physiological status of P. fluorescens 2-79RLI in the nutrient solution maintained at pH 6.5. It is concluded that the stimulation of root colonization by NH ₄ ⁺ in the nutrient solution, not maintained at a constant pH, may be due to increased leakage of solutes into the rhizosphere as a result of impaired exudate retention by high H⁺ concentration in the rhizosphere or the apoplast. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Neutralization of acidic drainage by Cryptococcus sp. T1 immobilized in alginate beads

We isolated Cryptococcus sp. T1 from Lake Tazawa’s acidic water in Japan. Cryptococcus sp. T1 neutralized an acidic casamino acid solution (pH?3.0) and released ammonia from the casamino acids to aid the neutralization. The neutralization volume was estimated to be approximately 0.4 mL/h. The casamino acids’ amino acids decreased (1.24→0.15 mM); ammonia increased (0.22→0.99 mM). We neutralized acidic drainage water (1 L) from a Tamagawa River neutralization plant, which was run through the column with the T1-immobilized alginate beads at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, and observed that the viscosity, particle size and amounts of the alginate beads affected the acidic drainage neutralization with an increase of the pH value from 5.26 to 6.61 in the last fraction. An increase in the Al concentration decreased Cryptococcus sp. T1’s neutralization ability. After 48 h, the pH of acidic water with 50 mg/L Al was apparently lower than that without Al. Almost no pH increase was observed at 75 mg/L.