Actinomycetes Diversity among rRNA Gene Clones and Cellular Isolates from Sambhar Salt Lake, India

Abstract

The vertical stratification of actinomycetes diversity in Sambhar salt lake (India’s largest salt lake) was investigated by using cultivable and uncultivable approaches. The isolates from cultured approaches were clustered on the basis of cultural, morphological, biochemical, and cell wall characteristics, and results were further strengthened by 16S rDNA-RFLP into five major groups. 16S rDNA sequencing of the representative isolates from each clusters was identified as belonging toStreptomyces, Actinopolyspora, Microbispora, Saccharopolyspora, andActinoplanesgenera, while culture independent group was established asStreptomyces(130 clones, 20 OTUs),Micromonospora(96 clones, 7 OTUs),Streptosporangium(79 clones, 9 OTUs),Thermomonospora(46 clones, 8 OTUs), andDactylosporangium(58 clones, 8 OTUs). The diversity assessment using Shannon and Wiener index was found to be 1.55, 1.52, 1.55, and 1.49 from surface lake water, at depth of 1.5 m, shallow layer of water with algal population, and finally at depth of 2.5 m, respectively. We observed diversity in terms of the species richness asStreptomycesis dominant genus in both culture dependent and culture independent techniques followed byMicrobispora(culture dependent methods) andMicromonospora(culture independent method) genera, respectively.