Detection, quantification and sequencing of 16s rRNA and pmoA genes of the phylum Verrucomicrobia in soils under sugarcane cultivation

• Grant number: 13/05087-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Tsai Siu Mui
• Grantee: Andressa Monteiro Venturini
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The phylum Verrucomicrobia is a group of gram-negative microorganisms recently added to the domain Bacteria. The members of the phylum Verrucomicrobia were first observed in aquatic environments, but, currently, have been found in many different environments. In soil, Verrucomicrobia represents 1 to 10% of all bacterial 16S rRNA gene present, and recent studies indicate that the phylum is dominant in many microbial communities. Furthermore, recently, methanotrophic bacteria belonging to the phylum were discovered and detected by pmoA gene, responsible for the conversion of the greenhouse gas methane to methanol. Brazil is considered the world's largest producer of sugarcane, which has great economic and social importance, mainly related to the production of sugar and alcohol. The conversion of a natural system into cultivation fields changes the microbial biomass in the soil and, in addition, the management of the sugarcane harvesting may influence, among others, on the physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil. The phylum Verrucomicrobia is affected by environmental characteristics that change with time and soil depth. Furthermore, several studies have revealed that the abundance and community structure of Verrucomicrobia may be affected by deforestation and land-use changes. The objective of the present work is to detect, quantify and sequence the 16S rRNA and pmoA genes of Verrucomicrobia through culture-independent molecular techniques in soil samples under cultivation of green and burned sugarcane through a comparative study with mesocosm experiments established in a green house.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

VENTURINI, Andressa Monteiro. Effect of land use change and sugarcane rhizosphere on the structure and abundance of Bacteria and Verrucomicrobia communities. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB) Piracicaba.