Distribution of methanotrophs in the phyllosphere

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2012;76(8):1580-3. doi: 10.1271/bbb.120281. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Abstract

Plants have been reported to emit methane as well as methanol originating in their cell-wall constituents. We investigated methanotrophs in the phyllosphere by the enrichment culture method with methane as sole carbon source. We enriched methanotrophs from the leaves, flowers, bark, and roots of various plants. Analysis of the pmoA and mxaF genes retrieved from the enrichment cultures revealed that methanotrophs closely related to the genera Methylomonas, Methylosinus, and Methylocystis inhabit not only the rhizosphere but also the phyllosphere, together with methanol-utilizing bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Culture Media
  • Flowers / microbiology
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Methane / metabolism*
  • Methanol / metabolism
  • Methylocystaceae / classification
  • Methylocystaceae / genetics*
  • Methylomonas / classification
  • Methylomonas / genetics*
  • Methylosinus / classification
  • Methylosinus / genetics*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Bark / microbiology
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology*
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Plants / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Methane
  • Methanol