title: Quantification of the Pseudomonas population in New Zealand soils by fluorogenic PCR assay and culturing techniques.
abstract: The genus Pseudomonas contains fast-growing nutritionally versatile bacteria that are able to utilize a wide variety of carbon sources. The ubiquity of the genus has been highlighted by conventional microbiology and the genus is well represented in collections of cultured bacteria. Here we evaluate the Pseudomonas population in New Zealand soils by comparing a culture-independent (real-time PCR combined with fluorescent TaqMan technology) with a culture-dependent (Gould's S1) population estimate. We show that cultivated fluorescent pseudomonads are not numerically dominant and represent a small proportion of <1% of the total Pseudomonas population, and that the total Pseudomonas population itself represents only a small proportion of <1% of the total bacterial population.
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69, Lincoln 8152, New Zealand. lloyd-jonesg@landcareresearch.co.nz
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lloyd-Jones
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Laurie
authors.forename: Aynsley C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tizzard
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D009520:New Zealand; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D019914:Taq Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D019914:Taq Polymerase