Comparison of Soil Bacterial Communities in Rhizospheres of Three Plant Species and the Interspaces in an Arid Grassland

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.68.4.1854-1863.2002
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:59:40Z
• Authors: Cheryl R. Kuske; Lawrence O. Ticknor; Mark E. Miller; John M. Dunbar; Jody A. Davis; Susan M. Barns; Jayne Belnap
• Keywords: Bromus tectorum; Bulk soil

ABSTRACT Soil bacteria are important contributors to primary productivity and nutrient cycling in arid land ecosystems, their populations may be greatly affected by changes environmental conditions. In parallel studies, the composition of total bacterial community members Acidobacterium division were assessed grassland soils using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRF, also known as T-RFLP) analysis 16S rRNA genes amplified from soil DNA. Bacterial communities associated with rhizospheres native bunchgrasses Stipa hymenoides Hilaria jamesii , invading annual grass Bromus tectorum interspaces colonized cyanobacterial crusts compared at three depths. When used a replicated field-scale study, TRF was useful for identifying broad-scale, consistent differences different locations, over natural microscale heterogeneity soil. The compositions crust significantly those plant rhizospheres. Major observed species most apparent division. depth both This study provides baseline monitoring structure dynamics cover conditions grasslands.