Investigations on production and activity of Streptomyces antibiotics in soil: II. Activity of anthra quinone antibiotics in soil

Abstract

Summary 1. Antibiotic production of a Streptomyces isolate (Str. diastatochromogenes) was examinedin sterilized and non-sterilized soil with the aid of thin layer chromatography and spectrophotometry. 2. In sterilized soils greater amounts of antibiotics were produced than in non-sterilized. Inboth media addition of organic materials generally stimulated antibiotic production more or less. Oat meal was especially effective in stimulating antibiotic production in sterilized as well as in non-sterilized soils. 3. Using the described detection method the soil adsorbed about 50% of the antibioticsK6 and C. 4. The molecules of the antibiotics were relatively stable against abiotic and biotic influences in soil. There was only gradual reduction in antibiotic concentration. This was accompanied by an accumulation of altered antibiotics, which were presumably identical with other antibiotics produced by the antagonist.