Analysis of Isoprene-degrading Bacteria from Soils Associated with Tropical Economic Crops and Framework Forest Trees

In this study, the abilities of soil bacteria associated with tropical plants to consume isoprene were investigated. Soil samples were taken from beneath economic crops (oil palm, rubber tree and sugar cane) and framework trees (wild himalayan cherry, council tree and wild oak) in different seasons. The soil samples were analysed for isoprene consumption rates using Gas Chromatography Flame Ionisation Detector every 24 h for 96 h. Bacterial communities in the soil samples were analysed using Illumina Miseq next generation sequencing. The results indicated that enrichment with isoprene led to a convergence in, and a significantly different, bacterial community composition.