Tracking of methanotrophs and their diversity in paddy soil: A molecular approach

Abstract

Methanotrophs, the inhabitants of irrigated rice soils, were monitored using molecular tools. Methanol dehydrogenase coded by mxaF locus has been used as the genus-specific locus. The presence of the locus has been demonstrated in DNA extracted from soil samples as well as in methanol utilizing isolates derived from those samples. Further, ARDRA pattern and cluster analysis revealed the following closely related genera - type-I methanotrophs Methylomonas and/or Methylocaldum in rhizosphere soil and coexistence of both type-I (Methylomonas and/or Methylocaldum) and type-II methanotrophs Methylobacterium and/or Methylocella in non-rhizosphere soil.