Comparison of the activity of beta glucosidase and poly–phenol oxidase in woody and grassy soils in La Copita, Texas

CHED 800

Valerie R. Dooling, vdooling@purdue.edu1, Timothy R. Filley, filley@purdue.edu1, and Diane E. Stott, Diane.Stott@ars.usda.gov2. (1) Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, 105 E. Columbia Ave Apt 3, West Lafayette, IN 47906, (2) USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, 275 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2077
Thorn woodland encroachment into grasslands is a major global ecosystem shift due primarily to fire suppression and livestock grazing techniques. It is speculated that these shifts in plant type impact soil carbon storage such that soil organic matter accrues providing a means to sequester carbon and contribute to mitigation of rising atmospheric CO2 levels. The primary purpose of this study is to analyze the activity of enzymes responsible for the degradation of a majority of the plant carbon input into such soils, poly-phenol oxidase and beta glucosidase. We compared the activity of these enzymes in a woody encroachment site in the Rio Grande plains of South Texas. We found that the woody plant clusters had on average higher phenol oxidase activity compared to grasslands which we interpret as a response of decomposer microbes to increased plant input. We also discuss a comparison of soil sample storage techniques on enzyme activity.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Biochemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008