Author
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Whitehead, Terence |
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Cotta, Michael |
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Submitted to: Federation of European Microbiological Societies Microbiology Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 8/19/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Odor emanating from anaerobic lagoons and swine production facilities has increased the tension among rural neighbors and among urban and rural residents. Storage of swine waste is associated with the production of a variety of odorous compounds, including ammonia, organic acids and alcohols, and sulfides. The greenhouse gas methane is also produced in large quantities during waste storage. We now report on the identificatio of the microorganisms responsible for methane production from swine waste pits. Several of the microorganisms have not been previously identified in nature. This information will be valuable in devising strategies to deal with the problem of odors produced from stored animal wastes. Technical Abstract: Total DNA was isolated from swine feces and a swine waste storage pit and used as templates for PCR amplification of archaeal 16 rDNA using specific primers. Only the sample from the center of the waste pit produced a PCR product. DNA sequence analyses of random clones demonstrated a variety of methanogenic archaebacteria. Six groups of sequences were identified, including those similar to Methanobrevibacter sp., Methanocorpusculum sp., and Methanoculleus sp. Three groups of sequences represented unidentified organisms. These data suggest that swine waste storage pits may represent an untapped source of novel methanogenic archaebacteria. |
