title: Compartmentalization of gypsum and halite associated with cyanobacteria in saline soil crusts.
abstract: The interface between biological and geochemical components in the surface crust of a saline soil was investigated using X-ray diffraction, and variable pressure scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Mineral compounds such as halite and gypsum were identified crystallized around filaments of cyanobacteria. A total of 92 genera were identified from the bacterial community based on 16S gene pyrosequencing analysis. The occurrence of the gypsum crystals, their shapes and compartmentalization suggested that they separated NaCl from the immediate microenvironment of the cyanobacteria, and that some cyanobacteria and communities of sulfur bacteria may had a physical control over the distinctive halite and gypsum structures produced. This suggests that cyanobacteria might directly or indirectly promote the formation of a protective envelope made of calcium and sulfur-based compounds.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di Ricerca per lo studio delle relazioni tra Pianta e Suolo, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canfora
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vendramin
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vittori Antisari
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lo Papa
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dazzi
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di Ricerca per lo studio delle relazioni tra Pianta e Suolo, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agraria, Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iavazzo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agraria, Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Life Sciences Department, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anne D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Jungblut
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di Ricerca per lo studio delle relazioni tra Pianta e Suolo, Rome, Italy Natural History Museum, Life Sciences Department, London, UK flavia.pinzari@crea.gov.it.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinzari
mesh_terms: D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002133:Calcium Sulfate
keywords: biomineralization; cyanobacteria; saline soils; soil crust; sulfur bacteria