Glossary

Biotrophic

Organisms that derive their energy from living cells (Lewis, 1973)

Enzyme

Special kind of protein that allow reactions to occur at faster speeds than normal or under less extreme conditions.

Genera

A taxonomic category ranking below a family and above a species and generally consisting of a group of species exhibiting similar characteristics.

Hypertrophy

A non-tumerous enlargement of an organ or a tissue as a result of an increase in the size rather than the number of constituent cells.

Immobilisation of nutrients

The incorporation of nutrients into the microbial communication in soil. This creates a pool of nutrients in living cells  within the soil matrix.

This is the opposite of mineralization, which is the process of converting the nutrients from organic to inorganic forms through the degredation of organic matter. The immobilised nutrients are therefore unavailable to plants until death and decay of the microbes, preventing their loss by leaching.

Lignin

Organic compound containing carbon that gives stems their "woodiness"

Necrotrophic

Organisms that derive their energy from dead cells (Lewis, 1973)

Nitrogenase

The bacterial enzyme that allows atmospheric nitrogen to be converted to ammonium. Without nitrogenase, atmospheric nitrogen can only be converted to ammonium under high pressure and temperatures. Nitrogenase requires a low oxygen environment to function.

Phenols

Organic compounds

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates made up of monosaccharides (simple sugars). Starch and cellulose are polysaccharides.

Waxes

Naturally occurring compounds. The leaves of most plants are coated with wax, which helps to prevent microorganisms from attacking them and also allows them to conserve water (Bettleheim and March, 1991)

References

Bettleheim, Frederick A., and March, Jerry (1991) Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry (Third edition) p. 516. Saunders College Publishing, USA.

Coyne, Mark (1999) Soil Microbiology: An Exploratory Approach. pp. 337-347. Delmar Publishers, New York.

Lavelle, P. and Spain, A.V. (2001) Soil Ecology, pp 201-356 Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.

Lewis, D.H. (1973) Concepts in fungal nutrition and the origin of biotrophy. Biol. Rev. 48, 261-278.