A practical and low cost microbiotest to assess the phytotoxic potential of growing media and soil

For routine toxicity testing of composts and growing media, two different types of assays are usually applied. One approach is the use of growing trials in pots with various mixtures of the material. In extract-based tests, seeds are germinated in petri dishes and exposed to an exudate from the material to be tested. In this study, one of these methods, the Phytotoxkit microbiotest, was compared to the standard phytotoxicity test with Lactuca sativa as used by the RHP foundation. The Phytotoxkit test was performed in transparent test containers which allow for direct observation and length measurements of the seedlings by means of image analysis. Two dicotyles (Lepidium sativum and Sinapis alba) and one monocotyle (Sorghum saccharatum) were used. When measuring a presumably phytotoxic bark, in comparison with a reference bark, the Phytotoxkit showed a seedling length inhibition of 60¿80% for the dicotyles and less than 20% for the monocotyle after three days. The RHP growing trial showed 30% weight inhibition of the lettuce after two weeks of plant growth when comparing the same barks in mixtures. This preliminary comparison showed that the Phytotoxkit microbiotest is a quick and practical bioassay with a high resolution which has a potential to become an international standard

Sur l'importance du fouling dans le port d'Ostende en 1964

An extensive overview is given of the different taxa that cause fouling in the busiest part of the Ostend harbour, namely the ferry wharfs

Contributions à l'étude des bactéries marines du littoral belge: III. Milieux de culture et ensemencements

In order to detect a suitable medium for the enumeration of marine bacteria, several culture media were compared by two methods of plating: « pour plates » after Koch, and « spread plates ».The optimum period of incubation to get a maximum number of colonies on the dishes was determined

Contributions à l'étude des bactéries marines du littoral belge: II. Comparaison de plusieurs méthodes pour détacher et obtenir en suspension les bactéries contaminant des surfaces

Comparison of different methods to remove and to suspend bacteria which contaminate surfaces.The waterpressure and suction-rinsing method gave most satisfactory results as to the percentage of removed organisms and the number of them that we could bring into culture on agar-media

Technological improvements for the cultivation of invertebrates as food for fishes and crustaceans. I. Devices and methods

Technological problems can be considered as one of the bottlenecks of research concerned with culturing aquatic invertebrates in the laboratory, as well as at the pilot and mass production stages.Oxygenation problems, circulation of the food and sedimentation problems can easily be solved by adapting the shape of the culturing vessels, i.e., by using funnel-shaped bottoms or high, narrow cylinders. In both cases, the food particles, settled on a very small bottom area, can easily be blown back into suspension using an air pump, which re-aerates the medium at the same time.A number of culturing devices for different categories of organisms, including algae are described and commented on. The only power source involved is compressed air which aerates, keeps the water circulating, resuspends particles which have settled to the bottom and even provides CO2 in the case of algal culturing

Contributions à l'étude des bactéries marines du littoral belge: IV. Recherche quantitative de la richesse microbienne de l'eau du bassin de chasse d'Ostende par lecture directe sur membranes filtrantes

In a series of bi-mensual samplings in 1966, the method of direct counting on membrane filters has been used to determine the quantity of bacteria present in the water of the Sluice-dock in Ostend (Belgium) as a possible important food-stock for oysters which are reared there