Nitrogen fixation associated with sago ( Metroxylon sagu) and some implications.

Shipton, W.A.; Baker, A.; Blaney, B.J.; Horwood, P.F.; Warner, J.M.; Pelowa, D.; Greenhill, A.R.

To determine the presence and contribution of diazotrophic bacteria to nitrogen concentrations in edible starch derived from the sago palm ( Metroxylon sagu). Isolation of diazotrophic bacteria and analysis of nitrogen fixation were conducted on pith, root and sago starch samples. Acetylene reduction showed that five of ten starch samples were fixing nitrogen. Two presumptive nitrogen-fixing bacteria from starch fixed nitrogen in pure culture and five isolates were positive for the nif H gene. Nitrogen concentrations in 51 starch samples were low (37 samples <0·2 g kg; 14 ranging from 0·2 to 2·0 g kg). Nitrogen fixation occurs in sago starch, which undoubtedly plays a role in fermentation ecology. Nitrogen levels are considered too low to be of nutritional benefit and to protect against nutritional-associated illnesses. Sago starch does not add significantly to the protein calorie intake and may be associated with susceptibility to nutritional-associated illness.

NITROGEN fixation; NITROGEN-fixing microorganisms; SAGO; SWAMP sago; FERMENTATION; ACETYLENE reduction assay; DIETARY proteins; DISEASE susceptibility

Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2011, Vol 52, Issue 1, p56

0266-8254

Academic Journal

10.1111/j.1472-765X.2010.02967.x