Open AccessStability of a biogas‐producing bacterial, archaeal and fungal community degrading food residues
Author(s) -
Bengelsdorf Frank R.,
Gerischer Ulrike,
Langer Susanne,
Zak Manuel,
Kazda Marian
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6941.12055
Subject(s) - biology , 16s ribosomal rna , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , thermophile , firmicutes , library , archaea , 18s ribosomal rna , microbial population biology , botany , ribosomal rna , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , gene , biochemistry , genetics
The resident microbiota was analyzed in a mesophilic, continuously operating biogas plant predominantly utilizing food residues, stale bread, and other waste cosubstrates together with pig manure and maize silage. The dominating bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic community members were characterized by two different 16S/18S rRNA gene culture‐independent approaches. Prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene and eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed and further analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), 16S/18S rRNA gene sequencing, and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The most dominant bacteria belonged to the phyla Bacteriodetes , Chloroflexus , and Firmicutes . On the family level, the bacterial composition confirmed high differences among biogas plants studied so fare. In contrast, the methanogenic archaeal community was similar to that of other studied biogas plants. Furthermore, it was possible to identify fungi at the genus level, namely Saccharomyces and Mucor . Both genera, which are important for microbial degradation of complex compounds, were up to now not found in biogas plants. The results revealed their long‐term presence as indicated by denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The DGGE method confirmed that the main members of the microbial community were constantly present over more than one‐year period.