A bacterium living inside plants could be improved for cleaning up environmental pollutants without genetic modification. Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho reveal that this seemingly beneficial development is beset with danger, as the bacterium concerned is a known pathogen.

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Water soluble and highly volatile organic environmental pollutants, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene compounds, chlorinated solvents and nitrotoluene ammunition wastes, are being cleaned up using plants in combination with microorganisms that naturally live inside the plants (endophytes).

Endophyte bacteria live within the tissue of the plant without harming it. They are found in most plant species, and many can colonize the vascular system. The highest densities of bacteria are usually found in the roots, less in the stem, and least in the leaves. The plants take up the pollutants through their roots, and the bacteria break these down within the roots or in other parts of the plant...

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