Pesticide treated soil microcosm mobilome. soil metagenome

The soil microcosm (SM) experiment has been described before (Bers et al., 2013) and aimed at assessing the role of Variovorax in linuron mineralization in agricultural soil. Here by a novel metagenomic tool, the accessory genes of the IS1071 composite transposons was targeted by means of a long range PCR method. Aiming to further study the ecological significance of these mobile genetic elements in pesticide contaminated environments. Briefly, the SM consisted of small glass columns filled with soil originating from a field with a history of linuron treatment. Irrigation was performed discontinuously with sterile tapwater contaning linuron (60 mg/L) with an average irrigation of 0.5 mL per day. The SM was incubated at 25°C and after 78 days, irrigation was ceased for 31 days but was resumed on day 110. DNA samples were taken at day 491 of the incubation and the long range PCR performed to asses the IS1071 accessory load. Bers K, De Mot R & Springael D (2013) In situ response of the linuron degradation potential to linuron application in an agricultural field. FEMS microbiology ecology 1–14.