Bacillus kiskunsagensis sp. nov., a novel alkaliphilic and moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from soda soil.

An alkaliphilic and moderately halophilic strain characterized by optimal growth at pH 9.0-10.0 and 7 % (w/v) NaCl, and designated B16-24T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of the bayonet grass Bolboschoenus maritimus at a soda pond in the Kiskunság National Park, Hungary. Cells of the strain were Gram-staining-positive, non-motile, straight rods, and formed central, ellipsoidal endospores with slightly swollen sporangia. The isolate was facultative anaerobic, catalase positive, oxidase negative, and contained a peptidoglycan of type A1γ based on meso-diaminopimelic acid. Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) was the predominant isoprenoid quinone, and anteiso-C15 : 0 the major cellular fatty acid. The DNA G+C content of strain B16-24T was 36.6 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the novel isolate had the greatest similarities to the type strains of Bacillus okhensis Kh10-101T (97.8 %), B. akibai 1139T (97.4 %), B. alkalisediminis K1-25T (97.3 %) and B. wakoensis N-1T (97.1 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness of strain B16-24T and the closely related Bacillus species ranged between 24±6 % and 35±3 %. The distinctive phenotypic and genetic results of this study confirmed that strain B16-24T represents a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus kiskunsagensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B16-24T (=DSM 29791T=NCAIM B.02610T).

Diversity and ecological tolerance of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of halophyton plants living nearby Kiskunság soda ponds, Hungary.

Many halophytes and halophilic microorganisms are capable to adapt to the extremities of saline habitats. This study reveals the taxonomic diversity and ecological tolerance of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of three different halophytes (Bolboschoenus maritimus, Puccinellia limosa and Aster tripolium) living in the vicinity of Kiskunság soda ponds. Following a sampling in September 2013, altogether 76 bacterial strains were isolated using two different media. The strains were identified on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing following ARDRA grouping. Salt and pH tolerance of the strains were examined by measuring their growth in broths containing 0-15% NaCl (w/V) and characterized with pH 7-12 values. Among the strains genera of Anaerobacillus, Bacillus and Exiguobacterium (Firmicutes), Agromyces, Isoptericola, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Nocardiopsis, Nesterenkonia and Streptomyces (Actinobacteria), Halomonas and Idiomarina (Proteobacteria) and Anditalea (Bacteroidetes) were identified. The Bolboschoenus and Puccinellia samples characterized with the highest pH and electric conductivity values were dominated by Bacillus, Halomonas and Nesterenkonia, respectively. The salt tolerance of the bacterial strains was strongly dependent on the sampling location and plant species. In contrast, growth of bacterial strains in broths with alkaline pH values was more balanced. The strains from the Puccinellia sample showed the widest salt and pH tolerance.

Metabolic activity and genetic diversity of microbial communities inhabiting the rhizosphere of halophyton plants.

A preliminary study was conducted to compare the community level physiological profile (CLPP) and genetic diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities of four plant species growing nearby Kiskunság soda ponds, namely Böddi-szék, Kelemen-szék and Zab-szék. CLPP was assessed by MicroResp method using 15 different substrates while Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to analyse genetic diversity of bacterial communities. The soil physical and chemical properties were quite different at the three sampling sites. Multivariate statistics (PCA and UPGMA) revealed that Zab-szék samples could be separated according to their genetic profile from the two others which might be attributed to the geographical location and perhaps the differences in soil physical properties. Böddi-szék samples could be separated from the two others considering the metabolic activity which could be explained by their high salt and low humus contents. The number of bands in DGGE gels was related to the metabolic activity, and positively correlated with soil humus content, but negatively with soil salt content. The main finding was that geographical location, soil physical and chemical properties and the type of vegetation were all important factors influencing the metabolic activity and genetic diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities.