Influence of introducing the genetically modified strain Sinorhizobium meliloti ACH-5 on the structure of the soil microbial community

Abstract

To study the influence of genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) on the number and structure of the soil microbial community, we introduced the genetically modified strain of Sinorhizobium meliloti into soil under controlled laboratory conditions. The analysis of the dynamics of soil microorganisms of all the main groups (archaea, bacteria, fungi) using the PCR with real-time detection and the analysis of the species structure of all the indicated components using T-RFLP were carried out for a month. The results of the quantitative PCR demonstrated that none of the components of the soil microbial community was appreciably influenced by the GMM introduced. The number of GMM decreased over a month more than 300-fold. The analysis of the dynamics of the eubacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities using T-RFLP did not detect fundamental changes in their structure.