The diversity and abundance of phytase genes (beta-propeller phytases) in bacterial communities of the maize rhizosphere

Author(s)

Cotta, S. R. ^{[1, 2]} ; Cavalcante Franco Dias, A. ^[1] ; Seldin, L. ^[3] ; Andreote, F. D. ^[1] ; van Elsas, J. D. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Soil Sci, Av Padua Dias 11, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Groningen, GELIFES, Dept Microbial Ecol, Groningen - Netherlands

^[3] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Microbiol Paulo de Goes, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Letters in Applied Microbiology; v. 62, n. 3, p. 264-268, MAR 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

The ecology of microbial communities associated with organic phosphorus (P) mineralization in soils is still understudied. Here, we assessed the abundance and diversity of bacteria harbouring genes encoding beta-propeller phytases (BPP) in the rhizosphere of traditional and transgenic maize cultivated in two Brazilian soils. We found a soil-dependent effect towards a higher abundance of phytase genes in the rhizosphere, and an absence of any impact of plant genotype. Phylogenetic analyses indicated members of the genera Pseudomonas, Caulobacter, Idiomarina and Maricaulis, close to uncultured bacteria', to constitute the dominant bacteria hosting this gene. The results obtained validate a methodology to target bacteria that are involved in the organic P cycle, and depict the responsiveness of such bacteria to the rhizosphere, albeit in dependency of the soil in which maize is cultivated. The data also identified the major bacterial groups that are associated with the organic P mineralization function. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/14534-4 - METATRANSCRIPTOMICS AND GENOMIC CONTEXT IN MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES IN MANGROVES
• Grantee: Armando Cavalcante Franco Dias
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral