Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) Analysis of Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities in a Peat Soil.

To analyze the rhizosphere bacterial communities in wetlands, the total lipid content was extracted from a peat soil and 4 abundant wetland plant roots (Typha angustifolia L., Salix cinerea L., Carex pseudocyperus L., Thelypteris palustris Salisb.). The separated phospholipid fraction was further fractionated and derivatized prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurement. In the evaluation only the bacteria-specific fatty acids were used in order to neglect fatty acid information derived from plant root cells. Based on these analyses, a high level bacterial concentration was demonstrated in the rhizosphere, and the relative occurrence of aerobe and anaerobe, Gram positive and negative bacteria, methanotrophs, sulphate reducers and Actinobacteria was determined. Through the PLFA analysis the study of bacteria regardless of culturability was possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]