2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)- and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T)-degrading bacterial community in soil-water suspension during the enrichment process

Changes in the bacterial community in soil-water suspensions during the enrichment period of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T degraders were examined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. The nucleotide sequences of almost all major bands at the degradation of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T corresponded to those of 2,4-D- and 2,4,5-T-degrading isolates, and successions of diverse 2,4-D- and 2,4,5-T-degrading bacterial communities were demonstrated in the DGGE profile. These results suggested that 2,4-D- and 2,4,5-T-degrading isolates were responsible for the degradation of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T in soil-water suspensions; however, one major band of a non-degrader was found in some cases. Therefore, to elucidate the relationship between the structures and functions of bacterial communities, the importance of a combined approach using both culture-dependent and -independent methods was demonstrated.