Estimating genetic structure and diversity of cyanobacterial communities in Atlantic forest phyllosphere

Author(s)

Rigonato, Janaina ; Goncalves, Natalia ; Dini Andreote, Ana Paula ; Lambais, Marcio Rodrigues ; Fiore, Marli Fatima

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology; v. 62, n. 11, p. 953-960, NOV 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

Cyanobacterial communities on the phyllosphere of 4 plant species inhabiting the endangered Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome were evaluated using cultivation-independent molecular approaches. Total genomic DNA was extracted from cells detached from the surface of leaves of Euterpe edulis, Guapira opposita, Garcinia gardneriana, and Merostachys neesii sampled in 2 Brazilian Atlantic Forest locations along an elevational gradient, i.e., lowland and montane forest. The DNA fingerprinting method PCR-DGGE revealed that the cyanobacterial phyllosphere community structures were mainly influenced by the plant species; geographical location of the plant had little effect. The 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained by clone libraries showed a predominance of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria of the order Nostocales, even though the majority of retrieved operational taxonomic units (similar to 60% of the sequences) showed similarity only to uncultured cyanobacteria phylotypes. The leaf surface of Guapira opposita had the highest richness and diversity of cyanobacteria, whereas the M. neesii (bamboo) had the largest number of copies of cyanobacterial 16S rRNA gene per cm(2) of leaf. This study investigated cyanobacteria diversity and its distribution pattern in Atlantic forest phyllosphere. The results indicated that plant species is the main driver of cyanobacteria community assemblage in the phyllosphere and that these communities are made up of a high diversity of cyanobacterial taxa that need to be discovered. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/15402-1 - Cyanobacteria of the Atlantic Forest phyllosphere: isolation, taxonomy and bioprospecting
• Grantee: Ana Paula Dini Andreote
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 08/50824-1 - Microbial diversity in the phyllosfhere and soil of the Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Marli de Fátima Fiore
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 07/08354-5 - Assessment of the genetic diversity of cyanobacteria from São Paulo State mangroves using DGGE and library of 16S rDNA gene
• Grantee: Janaina Rigonato
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate