Ecological Characteristics of Culturable Myxobacteria in the Rhizosphere Soil of Saline-Tolerant Plants in the Ebinur Saline Wetlands

Abstract

T his study investigated the ecological distribution of myxobacteria in the saline environment of the Ebinur Lake Wetland, in China, which provides a unique microecological environment for their survival. Culturable myxobacteria were isolated using traditional methods including Escherichia coli DH5α, rabbit feces, and filter paper flakes as food sources. Molecular identification along with physiological, biochemical assays and morphological characterization was carried out for the classification and identification of myxobacteria. Associations between soil environmental factors and myxobacterial diversity were analyzed using redundancy analysis. This study involved collecting rhizosphere soil from 15 species of salt-tolerant plants, ultimately yielding 15 strains of myxobacteria from eight of these species. Fifteen strains of myxobacteria were taxonomically placed by analyzing 16S rRNA homology, seven strains were closely related to Myxococcus virescens, six strains were closely related to Myxococcus fulvus and two strains were closely related to Myxococcus xanthus. Myxococcus virescens, the dominant cultivable species of myxobacteria in the Ebinur Lake Wetland, was isolated from various sampling sites using traditional methods. Analysis of antibiotic resistance revealed that myxobacterial strains M2, M6, M9, M13, and M15 are resistant to gentamicin. Furthermore, predation assays demonstrated that myxobacterial strain M14 exhibits the broadest spectrum of predation against both bacterial and fungal prey. The limited culturable myxobacterial diversity observed in the Ebinur Lake Wetland could potentially result from variations in soil physicochemical properties, vegetation type, and employed isolation methods. These findings enhance our comprehension of the myxobacterial resources within this specific salt desert ecosystem.