Open AccessPhenotypic and genetic diversity within a colony morphotype
Author(s) -
Lebaron Philippe,
Ghiglione JeanFrançois,
Fajon Céline,
Batailler Nicole,
Normand Philippe
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb12903.x
Subject(s) - biology , genetic diversity , restriction fragment length polymorphism , 16s ribosomal rna , colony morphology , bacteria , zoology , genotype , genetics , gene , population , demography , sociology
Isolates showing different and similar colony morphologies were selected from spread plates of bacteria from seawater samples taken in the northern Adriatic Sea. All isolates were characterised by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of their PCR‐amplified 16S rRNA gene and by 95 physiological tests (Biolog system). Cluster analysis of both genetic and phenotypic patterns showed that different colony morphotypes were related to different species or biotypes. However, isolates belonging to the more well‐defined, conspicuous colony types had a high similarity, whereas those from the less conspicuous colony morphotypes showed high genetic diversity. Although colony morphotypes clearly underestimate taxonomic diversity, they can be used combined with PCR‐RFLP analysis and as a preliminary approach for ecological studies aimed at the isolation of different species. Furthermore, for some species forming very conspicuous pigmented colonies, such as some photosynthetic aerobic bacteria, colony morphology may be useful for a rapid and low‐cost screening of their distribution in the natural environment, especially when combined with other molecular techniques.