Alternative Substrates for methylotrophic Microorganisms

Environmental factors that drive the biodiversity of soil methylotrophs have been purely addressed. Soil methylotrophs are often capable of utilizing multi-carbon compounds as alternatives to their one carbon substrates. We analysed the in situ capacity of methanol-consuming methylotrophs to utilize alternative substrates in a multi-treatment DNA SIP experiment, and supplemented typical organic matter degradation intermediates such acetate, plant-derived sugars (xylose, glucose), or a lignin-derived aromatic compound (vanillic acid). In addition, we analyzed the effect of an experimentally shifted pH on the indigenous methylotrophic microorganisms in an acidic forest soil.