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Effect of hydrogen on soil bacterial community structure in two soils as determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism

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Abstract

The metabolism of hydrogen evolved from HUP− legume nodules can alter bacterial community structures in the rhizosphere. Our earlier experiments demonstrated increased hydrogen uptake and appearance of white spots within bacterial colonies in H2-treated soil. We were also able to isolate hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria from soil samples exposed to hydrogen, but not from samples exposed to air. To further understand the effect of hydrogen metabolism on soil microbial communities, in this study 16S rRNA terminal restriction fragment (TRF) profiles of different soil samples exposed to hydrogen gas under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions were analyzed. Relationships between soil bacterial community structures from hydrogen-treated soil samples and controls, illustrated by UPGMA (unpaired group mathematical averages) dendrograms, indicated a significant contribution of hydrogen metabolism to the variation in bacterial community. The intensity variation of TRF peaks includes both hydrogen-utilizing bacteria, whose growth were stimulated by hydrogen exposure, and other bacterial species whose growth was inhibited. Comparison of TRF profiles between laboratory and greenhouse samples showed that T-RFLP is a useful technique in the detection of root-related effects on soil bacterial community structure.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and industrial and government partners, through the Green Crop Networks (GCN) Research Network and an NSERC Discovery Grant to ZD.

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  1. Ye Zhang

    Present address: Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 3C3

    Xiang He & Zhongmin Dong

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  1. Ye Zhang
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  2. Xiang He
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  3. Zhongmin Dong
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Correspondence to Zhongmin Dong.

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Responsible Editor: Euan K. James.

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Zhang, Y., He, X. & Dong, Z. Effect of hydrogen on soil bacterial community structure in two soils as determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Plant Soil 320, 295–305 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9894-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9894-3

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