Identification and Specific Detection of a Novel Pseudomonadaceae Cluster Associated with Soils from Winter Wheat Plots of a Long-Term Agricultural Field Experiment

The genus Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) represents a group of microorganisms directly involved in functions conferring plant health. We performed a study in the DOK long-term agricultural field experiment on the basis of previously published Pseudomonas-selective PCR primers in order to investigate the community structure of the microbial groups defined by the target range of these primers. Three different agricultural management systems, i.e., conventional, biodynamic, and bio-organic, along with mineral and unfertilized controls were investigated, with each system planted with either winter wheat or a grass-clover ley. Amplified small-subunit rRNA gene fragments were analyzed using the genetic profiling techniques restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), revealing distinct differences between soils planted with winter wheat and grass clover but only minor differences between the management systems. Phylogenetic analyses of 59 clone sequences retrieved from bio-organic and unfertilized systems identified sequences related to Pseudomonas fluorescens and a novel cluster termed Cellvibrio-related Pseudomonadaceae (CRP). The CRP clones were exclusively isolated from winter wheat soil samples and were responsible for the crop-specific differences observed in RFLP and DGGE profiles. New primers were designed for the amplification of CRP targets directly from soil DNA, yielding strong signals exclusively for winter wheat soils. We concluded that crop-associated CRP exist in agricultural soils and that genetic profiling followed by specific probe design represents a valuable approach for identification as well as sensitive and rapid monitoring of novel microbial groups in the environment.     

Microbial community of a saline mud volcano at San Biagio-Belpasso,Mt. Etna (Italy)

In San Biagio of Belpasso, approximately 20 km south of Mt. Etna, in the area of contact between volcanic and sedimentary formations, a number of small (3- 60 cm in diameter) active mud eruptions discharge CO2-rich gases, mud and NaCl brines. They can be described as mini-volcanoes owing to their typical conic shapes and continuously bubbling peak craters. Samples were collected from the active peak craters at a depth of 20 cm and DNA was immediately extracted and amplified with universal 16S rRNA gene-specific primers, followed by cloning procedure. A total of 140 bacterial clones obtained were screened and clustered by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The pool of 16S rRNA sequences representing each RFLP cluster was subjected to phylogenetic analysis. All of the 33 sequences analysed were affiliated with the kingdom of Eubacteria; 28 sequences (77% of all clones) affiliated with the Proteobacteria, two sequences (19% of all clones) were affiliated with Actinobacteria and three sequences (4% of all clones) were affiliated with the Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Bacteroides division. The data obtained suggest that the microorganisms phylogenetically affiliated to autotrophic methane oxidizers and heterotrophic hydrocarbon degraders belonging to the gamma-subclass of Proteobacteria are major constituents of the microbial communities of the saline volcanic muds. Overall, the composition of the microbial community of the San Biagio mud volcano resembles the compositions of marine microbial communities, which might indicate that wind-blown seawater vapour acted as an inoculum for microbial community described in present work.     

新疆泥火山细菌遗传多样性

为了解新疆乌苏泥火山细菌多样性,从泥火山泥浆样品中直接提取总DNA,构建了含150个有效转化子的泥火山细菌16S rDNA基因文库,转化子经菌液PCR及HaeⅢ酶切后获得16个不同带型,克隆测序结果表明,其分属于16个不同的分类单元.一部分序列与已知细菌类群的16S rDNA序列相似性较高,归属变形菌门(Proteobacteria),厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),梭杆菌门(Fusobacteria),放线菌门(Actinobacteria);另外一部分序列与已知细菌类群的16S rDNA序列同源性较低,可能代表新的分类单位.研究结果显示,泥火山环境中微生物种群丰富,值得进一步研究.     

Identification of enterohepatic Helicobacter species by restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rRNA gene

Background. Restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a 1,200-bp polymerase chain reaction–amplified DNA fragment of gene coding for 16S rRNA was used to generate restriction profiles of 11 enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. isolated from various animals and humans.
Methods. The amplicon from each Helicobacter sp. was digested with four restriction endonucleases: Alu I, Hinf I, Hha I, and Dde I. Alu I digestion produced five patterns that were useful for initial differentiation.
Results. Most Helicobacter spp. isolated from rodents had the same RFLP profiles by Alu I digestion (except H. rodentium and H. cholecystus ), but they had different RFLP profiles by Hha I digestion. Only H. bilis and " H. rappini" mouse isolates could not be readily distinguished by the polymerase chain reaction-RFLP method. However, these two species can be distinguished using H. bilis specific primers. Some of the Helicobacter spp. have an intervening sequence in their 16S rRNA gene, which changes the RFLP patterns; in these cases, sequencing is the preferred method to make an appropriate diagnosis.
Conclusions. The RFLP method used in this study was straightforward and rapid and should prove useful as an adjunct for identification and classification of multiple enterohepatic Helicobacter spp.     

三江源高寒草甸土固氮基因(nifH)的多样性和系统发育研究

首次利用PCR_RFLP和测序分析对位于青藏高原腹地的青海三江源保护区高寒草甸土壤微生物固氮基因（nifH）的多样性和系统发育进行了探讨。在2个样地中,共得到143个阳性克隆,用限制性内切酶MspⅠ和RsaⅠ进行RFLP分析后得到35个不同的RFLP谱带型,多样性为24.5%,其中ZD样品中获得82个阳性克隆和21个不同的RFLP谱带型,多样性为25.6％,而YS样品中获得61个阳性克隆和19个不同的RFLP谱带型,多样性为311％,2个样地中有5个相同的RFLP谱带型。在各样地都发现一个明显的优势种群,ZD样地的明显优势种群占克隆数的293%,YS的优势种群占克隆数的328%。对21个克隆进行了部分序列的测定,序列的相似性在71％～98％之间,在GenBank数据库中没有发现完全匹配的序列,因此这些序列可能代表着新的固氮生物株系。最后利用Clustal W与Mega软件和已有序列构建了系统发育树,结果发现,21个序列分为4个不同的簇,大部分的克隆与Proteobacteria的3个系统发育亚簇（α、β和γ）具有较高的相似性,其中主要的序列都落在第一和第二簇内。YS样地中的优势种群与α_Proteobacteria中的Rhodobacter sphaeroides具有较高的相似性,而ZD样地中的优势种群则与β_Proteobacteria中的Delftia tsuruhatensis具有较高的相似性。     

Use of Multiplex Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism for Rapid and Simultaneous Analysis of Different Components of the Soil Microbial Community▿

A multiplex terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (M-TRFLP) fingerprinting method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of the diversity and community structure of two or more microbial taxa (up to four taxa). The reproducibility and robustness of the method were examined using soil samples collected from different habitats. DNA was PCR amplified separately from soil samples using individual taxon-specific primers for bacteria, archaea, and fungi. The same samples were also subjected to a multiplex PCR with the primers for all three taxa. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles generated for the two sets of PCR products were almost identical not only in terms of the presence of peaks but also in terms of the relative peak intensity. The M-TRFLP method was then used to investigate rhizosphere bacterial, fungal, and rhizobial/agrobacterial communities associated with the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris growing in either open moorland, a mature pine forest, or a transition zone between these two habitats containing naturally regenerating pine trees. Rhizosphere microbial communities associated with Vaccinium myrtillus collected from the native pine forest were also investigated. In this study, individual PCR products from the three taxa were also pooled before restriction digestion and fragment size analysis. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles obtained with PCR products amplified individually and with multiplexed and pooled PCR products were found to be consistent with each other in terms of the number, position, and relative intensity of peaks. The results presented here confirm that M-TRFLP analysis is a highly reproducible and robust molecular tool for simultaneous investigation of multiple taxa, which allows more complete and higher resolution of microbial communities to be obtained more rapidly and economically.     

Formation of Pseudo-Terminal Restriction Fragments, a PCR-Related Bias Affecting Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of Microbial Community Structure

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of PCR-amplified genes is a widely used fingerprinting technique in molecular microbial ecology. In this study, we show that besides expected terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs), additional secondary T-RFs occur in T-RFLP analysis of amplicons from cloned 16S rRNA genes at high frequency. A total of 50% of 109 bacterial and 78% of 68 archaeal clones from the guts of cetoniid beetle larvae, using MspI and AluI as restriction enzymes, respectively, were affected by the presence of these additional T-RFs. These peaks were called “pseudo-T-RFs” since they can be detected as terminal fluorescently labeled fragments in T-RFLP analysis but do not represent the primary terminal restriction site as indicated by sequence data analysis. Pseudo-T-RFs were also identified in T-RFLP profiles of pure culture and environmental DNA extracts. Digestion of amplicons with the single-strand-specific mung bean nuclease prior to T-RFLP analysis completely eliminated pseudo-T-RFs. This clearly indicates that single-stranded amplicons are the reason for the formation of pseudo-T-RFs, most probably because single-stranded restriction sites cannot be cleaved by restriction enzymes. The strong dependence of pseudo-T-RF formation on the number of cycles used in PCR indicates that (partly) single-stranded amplicons can be formed during amplification of 16S rRNA genes. In a model, we explain how transiently formed secondary structures of single-stranded amplicons may render single-stranded amplicons accessible to restriction enzymes. The occurrence of pseudo-T-RFs has consequences for the interpretation of T-RFLP profiles from environmental samples, since pseudo-T-RFs may lead to an overestimation of microbial diversity. Therefore, it is advisable to establish 16S rRNA gene sequence clone libraries in parallel with T-RFLP analysis from the same sample and to check clones for their in vitro digestion T-RF pattern to facilitate the detection of pseudo-T-RFs.     

Polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rRNA genes from methanogens

For restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes, the rDNA fragments of 1.5 kb were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from crude cell lysates of various methanogenic species which were prepared by a combined technique of ultrasonic treatment and protease digestion. The PCR products were purified by the polyethylene glycol precipitation method and treated with various restriction enzymes. The 16S rDNA fragments digested with HaeIII or HhaI gave species-specific RFLP profiles on simplified agarose gel electrophoresis. 16S rDNA gragments of 0.4 kb from the bulk DNA extracted from mixed populations of anaerobic sludge were also amplified by PCR with a pair of methanogen-specific primers and cloned directly by the T-A cloning technique. The cloned 16S rDNAs from recombinants were reamplified by PCR, and RFLP pattern analysis was performed following digestion with HhaI. The PCR-RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA with the present protocol can be completed within one day, provided that sufficient amounts of test cells are available, and has great promise as a simple and rapid technique for identification of methanogens. A combined method consisting of PCR amplification, direc cloning with T vectors, and RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA is also useful for rapid estimation of the mixed population structure of methanogens without the need for cultivation and isolation.     

Identification and specific detection of a novel pseudomonadaceae cluster associated with soils from winter wheat plots of a long-term agricultural field experiment

The genus Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) represents a group of microorganisms directly involved in functions conferring plant health. We performed a study in the DOK long-term agricultural field experiment on the basis of previously published Pseudomonas-selective PCR primers in order to investigate the community structure of the microbial groups defined by the target range of these primers. Three different agricultural management systems, i.e., conventional, biodynamic, and bio-organic, along with mineral and unfertilized controls were investigated, with each system planted with either winter wheat or a grass-clover ley. Amplified small-subunit rRNA gene fragments were analyzed using the genetic profiling techniques restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), revealing distinct differences between soils planted with winter wheat and grass clover but only minor differences between the management systems. Phylogenetic analyses of 59 clone sequences retrieved from bio-organic and unfertilized systems identified sequences related to Pseudomonas fluorescens and a novel cluster termed Cellvibrio-related Pseudomonadaceae (CRP). The CRP clones were exclusively isolated from winter wheat soil samples and were responsible for the crop-specific differences observed in RFLP and DGGE profiles. New primers were designed for the amplification of CRP targets directly from soil DNA, yielding strong signals exclusively for winter wheat soils. We concluded that crop-associated CRP exist in agricultural soils and that genetic profiling followed by specific probe design represents a valuable approach for identification as well as sensitive and rapid monitoring of novel microbial groups in the environment.     

Analysis,Optimization and Verification of Illumina-Generated 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Surveys

The exploration of microbial communities by sequencing 16S rRNA genes has expanded with low-cost, high-throughput sequencing instruments. Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing has recently gained popularity over 454 pyrosequencing due to its lower costs, higher accuracy and greater throughput. Although recent reports suggest that Illumina and 454 pyrosequencing provide similar beta diversity measures, it remains to be demonstrated that pre-existing 454 pyrosequencing workflows can transfer directly from 454 to Illumina MiSeq sequencing by simply changing the sequencing adapters of the primers. In this study, we modified 454 pyrosequencing primers targeting the V4-V5 hyper-variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene to be compatible with Illumina sequencers. Microbial communities from cows, humans, leeches, mice, sewage, and termites and a mock community were analyzed by 454 and MiSeq sequencing of the V4-V5 region and MiSeq sequencing of the V4 region. Our analysis revealed that reference-based OTU clustering alone introduced biases compared to de novo clustering, preventing certain taxa from being observed in some samples. Based on this we devised and recommend an analysis pipeline that includes read merging, contaminant filtering, and reference-based clustering followed by de novo OTU clustering, which produces diversity measures consistent with de novo OTU clustering analysis. Low levels of dataset contamination with Illumina sequencing were discovered that could affect analyses that require highly sensitive approaches. While moving to Illumina-based sequencing platforms promises to provide deeper insights into the breadth and function of microbial diversity, our results show that care must be taken to ensure that sequencing and processing artifacts do not obscure true microbial diversity.     

Comparison and Characterization of Microbial Communities in Sulfide-rich Wastewater with and without Propidium Monoazide Treatment

A 16S rRNA gene-based culture-independent approach was used to study the bacterial and archaeal communities in a sulfide-rich wastewater. Propidium Monoazide (PMA) treatment was applied to limit the analysis to the fraction of viable cells in environment. A total of 104 and 68 clones respective from bacterial clone library and archaeal library were picked and analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). 35 RFLP patterns from bacterial clone library and 10 RFLP patterns from archaeal clone library were unique and the respective clones were selected for sequencing. BLAST analysis and RFLP analysis showed that the bacterial clone library mainly consisted of Gammaproteobacteria (73%), Anaerolineae (6%), Bacilli (5%), Deltaproteobacteria (7%), Clostridia (4%), Bacteroidetes (1%), and Chlorobia (1%); Methanomicrobia (99%) and Thermococci (1%) were the only two lineages of the archaeal domains. This study gave a first insight into the overall microbial structure in a cloth printing and dyeing wastewater treatment plant with high concentration of sulfide and increased knowledge on the applicability of the PMA treatment in combination with PCR-based molecular techniques to analyze only viable cells in microbial ecology.     

Molecular Characterization of Functional and Phylogenetic Genes from Natural Populations of Methanotrophs in Lake Sediments

The 16S rRNA and pmoA genes from natural populations of methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) were PCR amplified from total community DNA extracted from Lake Washington sediments obtained from the area where peak methane oxidation occurred. Clone libraries were constructed for each of the genes, and approximately 200 clones from each library were analyzed by using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and the tetrameric restriction enzymes MspI, HaeIII, and HhaI. The PCR products were grouped based on their RFLP patterns, and representatives of each group were sequenced and analyzed. Studies of the 16S rRNA data obtained indicated that the existing primers did not reveal the total methanotrophic diversity present when these data were compared with pure-culture data obtained from the same environment. New primers specific for methanotrophs belonging to the genera Methylomonas, Methylosinus, and Methylocystis were developed and used to construct more complete clone libraries. Furthermore, a new primer was designed for one of the genes of the particulate methane monooxygenase in methanotrophs, pmoA. Phylogenetic analyses of both the 16S rRNA and pmoA gene sequences indicated that the new primers should detect these genes over the known diversity in methanotrophs. In addition to these findings, 16S rRNA data obtained in this study were combined with previously described phylogenetic data in order to identify operational taxonomic units that can be used to identify methanotrophs at the genus level.     

Nitrous Oxide Reductase (nosZ) Gene Fragments Differ between Native and Cultivated Michigan Soils

The effect of standard agricultural management on the genetic heterogeneity of nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) fragments from denitrifying prokaryotes in native and cultivated soil was explored. Thirty-six soil cores were composited from each of the two soil management conditions. nosZ gene fragments were amplified from triplicate samples, and PCR products were cloned and screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The total nosZ RFLP profiles increased in similarity with soil sample size until triplicate 3-g samples produced visually identical RFLP profiles for each treatment. Large differences in total nosZ profiles were observed between the native and cultivated soils. The fragments representing major groups of clones encountered at least twice and four randomly selected clones with unique RFLP patterns were sequenced to verify nosZ identity. The sequence diversity of nosZ clones from the cultivated field was higher, and only eight patterns were found in clone libraries from both soils among the 182 distinct nosZ RFLP patterns identified from the two soils. A group of clones that comprised 32% of all clones dominated the gene library of native soil, whereas many minor groups were observed in the gene library of cultivated soil. The 95% confidence intervals of the Chao1 nonparametric richness estimator for nosZ RFLP data did not overlap, indicating that the levels of species richness are significantly different in the two soils, the cultivated soil having higher diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of deduced amino acid sequences grouped the majority of nosZ clones into an interleaved Michigan soil cluster whose cultured members are α-Proteobacteria. Only four nosZ sequences from cultivated soil and one from the native soil were related to sequences found in γ-Proteobacteria. Sequences from the native field formed a distinct, closely related cluster (D_mean = 0.16) containing 91.6% of the native clones. Clones from the cultivated field were more distantly related to each other (D_mean = 0.26), and 65% were found outside of the cluster from the native soil, further indicating a difference in the two communities. Overall, there appears to be a relationship between use and richness, diversity, and the phylogenetic position of nosZ sequences, indicating that agricultural use of soil caused a shift to a more diverse denitrifying community.     

Genetic Variation in Nacobbus aberrans: An Approach toward Taxonomic Resolution

Biochemical and molecular analyses of genetic variation were evaluated to address the taxonomic status of Nacobbus aberrans. Isolates from Mexico, Peru, and Argentina, cultured on tomato in the greenhouse, were analyzed with respect to isozyme and DNA marker variation. Although acid phosphatase and malate dehydrogenase revealed distinct profiles for each isolate, non-specific esterases revealed possible affinities between the Peruvian isolates and between the isolates from Mexico and Peru. Two of l 0 RAPD primers revealed affinities suggested by esterase profiles. RFLP analysis of the rDNA repeating unit with six restriction enzymes revealed identical cleavage patterns between the Peru isolates and a distinct profile shared by isolates from Mexico and Argentina. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5.8S rRNA coding region revealed differences among the four isolates at eight of 157 positions; sequences of the Peruvian isolates differed from each other at only one position, whereas the Mexican and Argentine isolates were identical and could be distinguished from the Peruvian isolates. A distance matrix from unweighted pairwise comparisons of the 5.8S rDNA revealed apparent elevated intraspecific divergence in N. aberrans comparable to intergeneric divergence between Heterodera and Globodera. Analysis of additional N. aberrans isolates from throughout the distribution range should help determine the full extent of intraspecific genetic variation that underlies the phenotypic and morphologic diversity of the genus.     

南美白对虾肠道微生物群落的分子分析

采用分子生物学手段16S rDNA克隆文库方法对实验室养殖条件下的南美白对虾肠道细菌进行了多样性研究。用限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)方法从文库中筛选出可能不同细菌来源的克隆子12个,测定其16S rDNA片段核甘酸序列,将所获得的序列与GenBank数据库进行BLAST比对,结果表明:南美白对虾肠道的16S rDNA克隆文库中126个克隆子分属2个不同的细菌类群:变形细菌(Proteobacteria)和厚壁细菌(Firmicutes),其中厚壁细菌为优势菌群占到75.4%,且与最相似序列同源性均低于94%;变形细菌占到24.6%,与最相似序列同源性均高于98%,分别为希瓦氏菌属(Shewanella),泛菌属(Pantoea),Aranicola属,假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和弧菌属(Vibrio)。     

Xiphinema krugi,Species Complex or Complex of Cryptic Species?

Fourteen morphologically putative populations of X. krugi were clearly separated into four different profiles by RFLP analysis (Alu I and Hinf I), sequencing of the ITS-1 region, and subsequent Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses. These four profiles were further supported by a principal component analysis of morphometric characters that yielded four taxonomic clusters matching those produced by the molecular data. Sequence homology was greater amongst populations that represented the same RFLP profile than between profiles and similar both between representative populations of the RFLP profiles and putative closely related Xiphinema species. This study suggests that X. krugi is a potential species complex comprised of at least four distinct genotypes.     

Analysis of microbial communities using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches in an anaerobic/aerobic SBR reactor

Comparative analysis of microbial communities in a sequencing batch reactor which performed enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) was carried out using a cultivation-based technique and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. A standard PCR protocol and a modified PCR protocol with low PCR cycle was applied to the two clone libraries of the 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from EBPR sludge, respectively, and the resulting 424 clones were analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) on 16S rRNA gene inserts. Comparison of two clone libraries showed that the modified PCR protocol decreased the incidence of distinct fragment patterns from about 63% (137 of 217) in the standard PCR method to about 34% (70 of 207) under the modified protocol, suggesting that just a low level of PCR cycling (5 cycles after 15 cycles) can significantly reduce the formation of chimeric DNA in the final PCR products. Phylogenetic analysis of 81 groups with distinct RFLP patterns that were obtained using the modified PCR method revealed that the clones were affiliated with at least 11 phyla or classes of the domain Bacteria. However, the analyses of 327 colonies, which were grouped into just 41 distinct types by RFLP analysis, showed that they could be classified into five major bacterial lineages: alpha, beta, gamma- Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and the phylum Bacteroidetes, which indicated that the microbial community yielded from the cultivation-based method was still much simpler than that yielded from the PCR-based molecular method. In this study, the discrepancy observed between the communities obtained from PCR-based and cultivation-based methods seems to result from low culturabilities of bacteria or PCR bias even though modified culture and PCR methods were used. Therefore, continuous development of PCR protocol and cultivation techniques is needed to reduce this discrepancy.     

Genetic fingerprinting for determining the mode of reproduction in Paspalum notatum, a subtropical apomictic forage grass

 Paspalum is an important genus of the family Gramineae that includes several valuable forage grasses. Many of the species are polyploid and either obligate or facultative apomicts. Cyto-embryological observations of several tetraploid genotypes of P. notatum were performed to determine their mode of reproduction. Afterwards, selfed progenies of the genotypes F131, Q3664 and Q4117 were analysed using RFLP and RAPD genetic fingerprints to identify maternal and non-maternal (aberrant) plants, and to establish the degree of apomictic reproduction. Five maize clones and six primers were used for detecting genetic deviations from the maternal profile. Maize clones umc379, umc384 and umc318 and primers OPG10 and OPI4 were the most informative for discriminating between maternal and aberrant individuals within the progenies of F131 and Q3664. The combined results of three RFLP clones or 4–6 RAPD primers were necessary to ascertain the mode of reproduction in plants F131 and Q3664. The results obtained with the RFLP and RAPD markers were in agreement with the cyto-embryological studies in ascertaining the mode and degree of apomictic reproduction. Plant F131 showed a completely sexual reproductive behaviour, Q3664 an elevated expression of sexuality, while Q4117 was highly apomictic. A fingerprint analysis of an outcrossing population, aimed at the identification of hybrid plants, was also performed. Maize clones um318 and umc379 and primers OPC2 and OPC9 were used. The presence of specific bands belonging to the male parent permitted a rapid and easy detection of hybrids. The methodology described here can be applied both for the characterisation of P. notatum populations and to identify hybrid progenies in Paspalum breeding programs. Received: 5 March 1997 / Accepted: 13 May 1997     

Use of multiplex terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism for rapid and simultaneous analysis of different components of the soil microbial community

A multiplex terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (M-TRFLP) fingerprinting method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of the diversity and community structure of two or more microbial taxa (up to four taxa). The reproducibility and robustness of the method were examined using soil samples collected from different habitats. DNA was PCR amplified separately from soil samples using individual taxon-specific primers for bacteria, archaea, and fungi. The same samples were also subjected to a multiplex PCR with the primers for all three taxa. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles generated for the two sets of PCR products were almost identical not only in terms of the presence of peaks but also in terms of the relative peak intensity. The M-TRFLP method was then used to investigate rhizosphere bacterial, fungal, and rhizobial/agrobacterial communities associated with the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris growing in either open moorland, a mature pine forest, or a transition zone between these two habitats containing naturally regenerating pine trees. Rhizosphere microbial communities associated with Vaccinium myrtillus collected from the native pine forest were also investigated. In this study, individual PCR products from the three taxa were also pooled before restriction digestion and fragment size analysis. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles obtained with PCR products amplified individually and with multiplexed and pooled PCR products were found to be consistent with each other in terms of the number, position, and relative intensity of peaks. The results presented here confirm that M-TRFLP analysis is a highly reproducible and robust molecular tool for simultaneous investigation of multiple taxa, which allows more complete and higher resolution of microbial communities to be obtained more rapidly and economically.     

Diversity of symbiotic archaeal communities in marine sponges from Korea

A molecular analysis of archaeal communities in eight sponges collected along the coast of Cheju Island, Korea was conducted using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) in conjunction with sequencing analysis of 16S rDNA clones. The terminal-restriction fragment (T-RF) profiles showed that each sponge had a simple archaeal community represented by a single major peak of the same size except for one unidentified sponge (01CJ20). In order to identify the components of the community, 170 archaeal 16S rDNA clones were recovered from sponges and analyzed by RFLP typing. Sequences of 19 representative clones for all RFLP types found in each sponge were determined and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Seventeen of these archaeal 16S rDNA clones showed a high similarity to marine group I, belonging to the crenarchaeotes. In the phylogenetic tree, 15 archaeal clones were grouped into five sponge-associated archaeal clusters. In the unidentified sponge sample (01CJ20), one major T-RF peak was represented by a single RFLP type (40 clones), which implied a specific relationship between the sponge and its symbiotic archaeal components.