DNA microarray analysis targeting pmoA gene reveals diverse community of methanotrophs in the rhizosphere of tropical rice soils

Abstract

The diversity of the methanotrophs community of two different rice fields of a typical tropical rice agroecosystem was assessed using microarray targeting pmoA gene-based approach. The presence of types I and II methanotrophs was observed with the dominance of Methylocystis in both the fields. The study revealed that the Barkachcha rice field harbours more diverse groups of methanotrophs than the Ghazipur rice field. It was also observed that in some members of types I and II methanotrophs, even the peat-associated group was present in the enriched culture of the soils. The Ghazipur soil and its enriched mixed methanotrophic culture showed higher methane oxidation potential than the Barkachcha soil. These results suggest that the methanotrophs community and its potential for methane oxidation vary with change in soil type within the same ecosystem.