PCR-DGGE Analysis of Nematode Diversity in Cu-Contaminated Soil

Abstract

A wheat pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions to assess the effect of copper contamination on soil nematode diversity by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method and morphological analysis. The soil was treated with CuSO 4·5H 2O at the following concentrations: 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg kg −1 dry soil, and the soil samples were collected at wheat jointing and ripening stages. Nematode diversity index ( H′) from morphological analysis showed no difference between the control and the treated samples in either of the sampling dates. At the wheat ripening stage, nematode diversity obtained by the PCR-DGGE method decreased noticeably in the Cu800 treatment in comparison with the control. With optimization of the method of nematode DNA extraction, PCR-DGGE could give more information on nematode genera, and the intensity of the bands could reflect the abundance of nematode genera in the assemblage. The PCR-DGGE method proved promising in distinguishing nematode diversity in heavy metal contaminated soil.