Structure and activity of bacterial community inhabiting rice roots and the rhizosphere.

Root-derived carbon provides a major source for microbial production and emission of CH4 from rice field soils. Therefore, we characterized the structure and activity of the bacterial community inhabiting rice roots and the rhizosphere. In the first experiment, DNA retrieved from rice roots was analysed for bacterial 16S rRNA genes using cloning, sequencing and in situ hybridization.

Strain FAc12, a dissimilatory iron-reducing member of the Anaeromyxobacter subgroup of Myxococcales.

Dissimilatory iron reduction is of quantitative importance during anaerobic degradation of organic matter in flooded rice field soils. To isolate dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms from rice soil, enrichments were carried out with acetate and ferrihydrite. One of these resulted in the isolation of strain FAc12.