Dan
Buckley, professor of microbial ecology and five other Cornell researchers,
along with colleagues from Lycoming College, described the new bacterium in a
paper published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary
Microbiology.
The
newly discovered bacteria belong to the genus Paraburkholderia, which are known
for their ability to degrade aromatic compounds and, in some species, the
capacity to form root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen.
The
first step was sequencing the bacterium's ribosomal RNA genes, which provided
genetic evidence that madseniana was a unique species. In studying the new
bacteria, the researchers noticed that madseniana is especially adept at
breaking down aromatic hydrocarbons, which make up lignin, a major component of
plant biomass and soil organic matter. Aromatic hydrocarbons are also found in
toxic PAH pollution.
This
means that the newly identified bacteria could be a candidate for biodegradation
research and an important player in the soil carbon cycle.
In
the case of madseniana, Buckley's lab wants to learn more about the symbiotic
relationship between the bacteria and forest trees. Initial research suggests
that trees feed carbon to the bacteria, and in turn the bacteria degrade soil
organic matter, thereby releasing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus for
the trees.
Understanding how bacteria break down carbon in soil could hold the key to the
sustainability of soil and the ability to predict the future of global climate.
This
research was supported the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
through a McIntire Stennis grant.
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Via Eurekalert