title: Ultraviolet radiation alters maize phyllosphere bacterial diversity.
abstract: Epiphytic bacteria are subjected to very stressful environments, including UV radiation. Bacterial assemblages on Zea mays (maize) leaves exposure were examined with and without UV-B radiation. Culture-independent molecular techniques were utilized for bacterial identification, diversity analysis and selection of putative UV exposure marker sequences. Few sequences corresponded to previously characterized phyllosphere bacteria. There was a strong tendency toward increased 16S rDNA sequence diversity in UV samples. Overall community structure was assessed using denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis; significant alterations in community structure were found in comparisons of phyllosphere bacterial samples from control and solar UV-B exposed plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadivar
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Stapleton
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S