Soil bacteria show different tolerance ranges to an unprecedented disturbance

We tested the effect of incremental dose of microwaving on soil bacteria as a model of unprecedented stress. 16S rRNA gene qPCR at both the DNA and cDNA levels was used to characterize the total (DNA) and transcriptionally active (cDNA) fractions of the bacterial community. Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene transcripts was performed to decipher tolerance ranges within the community using the concept of functional response groups (FRGs). Increasing microwaving doses resulted in 90% loss in total and transcriptionally active bacterial communities after 6.8 and 4.7 min, respectively.