Selection and Nitrogen Fixing (N2) Activity Test of Methanotrophic Bacteria from Rice Field Under Different Concentration of Oxygen.

Abstract

Methanotrophic bacteria is methane oxydizing bacteria. This bacteria has a specific enzyme known as methane monooksigenase (MMO) catalizing reaction of CH4 and O2 to methanol. Methanotrophic bacteria also have ability to fix nitrogen. Methanotrophic bacteria type II and type X could fix nitrogen using nitrogenase enzyme. This enzyme is very sensitive to oxygen. As many as 19 isolates of methanotrophic bacteria was recultured and determined their nitrogen fixation activity at different oxygen concentration. Nitrogen fixation activity was determined by measuring ammonium accumulation in NMS free nitrogen medium. High ammonium accumulation was found at cultures of BGM 1, BGM 3, BGM 5, dan BGM 9 isolates. The highest ammonium accumulation (88,816 <M) was showed by BGM 9 isolate on 30% oxygen concentration and the highest cell density was showed by BGM 5 isolate (OD 0,103) on 80% oxygen concentration. Keyword: Methane, methanotrophic bacteria, nitrogen fixation, Nitrogenase