| Abstract: | In bioassays in aquaria, the dying of Escherichia coli was accelerated by Glyceria maxima, Schoenoplectus lacustris, Alisma plantago-aquatica as well as Mentha aquatia as compared with check tanks without any plants (initial concentration 15 × 103 colony-forming units per ml). As expected, by this the antibacterial effect of the limnic macrophytes attains its maximum effectivity within the first days of the period of investigation. The decimal time of reduction is shortened by one third to half, the centimal reduction time is shortened by one fourth to one third. Mean contact times of 7… 11 h are required for the decimation of bacteria by 90 %, and mean contact times of 16… 19 h are necessary for a 99 % reduction of the population. Possibly, the antibacterial effect in mixed stands of different plant species is increased additively or superadditively. |
