Bacterial-biota dynamics of eight bryophyte species from different ecosystems

Abstract EN

Despite the importance of bryophyte-associated microorganisms in various ecological aspects including their crucial roles in the soil-enrichment of organic mass and N2 fixation, nonetheless, little is known about the microbial diversity of the bryophyte phyllospheres (epi- / endophytes).

To get insights into bacterial community structures and their dynamics on the bryophyte habitats in different ecosystems and their potential biological roles, we utilized the 16S rRNA gene PCR-DGGE and subsequent phylogenetic analyses to investigate the bacterial community of eight bryophyte species collected from three distinct ecosystems from western Japan.

Forty-two bacterial species belonging to c-proteobacteria and Firmicutes with 71.4 % and 28.6 %, respectively, were identified among 90 DGGE gel band population.

These DGGE-bands were assigned to 13 different genera with obvious predomination the genus Clostridium with 21.4 % from the total bacterial community.

These analyses provide new insights into bryophyte-associated bacteria and their relations to the ecosystems.