PCR-DGGE analysis on microbial communities in pit mud of cellars used for different periods of time

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was used to analyse microbial community evolution in the pit mud of cellars used for different periods of time in production of Chinese Luzhou-flavour liquor. The pit mud was collected from the cellars and the microbial DNA was extracted from the microbes in the pit mud. The Bf 968 primer was used for PCR-DGGE to analyse the variable region 6 (V6) to variable region 8 (V8) of the microbial 16S rDNA. It was found that the band number, dominance, diversity and similarity of the 16S rDNA were clearly different in the DGGE patterns, because of the great diversity expressed by the different microbial communities in the different-aged cellars. It is concluded that mutual collaboration and constraint exist between the different microbial communities in the different-aged cellars, and this relationship leads to an evolutional change in the structures and in the numbers of the microbial communities in the pit mud of the cellars. Changes become more obvious with increasing age of the liquor cellars. Copyright © 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling