J 2001

Assessment of chitin decomposer diversity within an upland grassland

KRSEK, Martin and EMH WELLINGTON

Basic information

Original name

Assessment of chitin decomposer diversity within an upland grassland

Authors

KRSEK, Martin and EMH WELLINGTON

Edition

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology, Dordrecht, Springer, 2001, 0003-6072

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.066

DOI

UT WoS

000171533400006

Keywords in English

actinomycetes; chitinase; DGGE; grassland ecology; litter bags; soil microcosms
Změněno: 8/1/2016 11:12, doc. Ing. Martin Krsek, CSc., MSc

Abstract

V originále

The breakdown of chitin within an acidic upland grassland was studied. The aim was to provide a molecular characterisation of microorganisms involved in chitin degradation in the soil using soil microcosms and buried litter bags containing chitin. The investigation involved an examination of the effects of liming on the microbial communities within the soil and their chitinolytic activity. Microcosm experiments were designed to study the influence of lime and chitin enrichment on the grassland soil bacterial community ex situ under controlled environmental conditions. Bacterial and actinomycete counts were determined and total community DNA was extracted from the microcosms and from chitin bags buried at the experimental site. PCR based on specific 16S rRNA target sequences provided products for DGGE analysis to determine the structure of bacterial and actinomycete communities. Chitinase activity was assessed spectrophotometrically using chitin labelled with remazol brilliant violet. Both liming and chitin amendment increased bacterial and actinomycete viable counts and the chitinase activity. DGGE band patterns confirmed changes in bacterial populations under the influence of both treatments. PCR products amplified from DNA isolated from chitin bags were cloned and sequenced. Only a few matched known species but a prominent coloniser of chitin proved to be Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.