Diversification of nitrogen fixing bacterial community using nifH gene as a biomarker in different geographical soils of Western Indian Himalayas.

ABSTRACT

Six soil samples (Pantnagar, Chamoli, Almora, Ranichauri, Pithoragarh and Badrinath) belonging to different geographical locations of Western Himalayas in India, were analyzed to diversify the nitrogen fixing bacterial community using nifH gene biomarker. DNA from soil samples were isolated and amplified using nifH gene specific primers. Genomic DNA and PCR amplified products were then individually subjected to restriction digestion with tetra to octacutter enzymes (AluI, MspI, BglII, XbaI, HindIII, HaeIII, AluI, MspI and PasI. Further, restriction pattern was studied by preparing dendograms on the basis of similarity matrix and compared for the nifH community. It was observed that temperate region soils (Ranichauri and Pithoragarh) were negative for nifH marker while subalpine region (Badrinath) and tarai region soils (Pantnagar) documented similar nifH community. Moreover, the direct genomic DNA restriction analysis indicated that subalpine region soil (Badrinath) was most diversified.