Metagenomic Study of Okhla Landfill Solid Waste, New Delhi, India.

The Okhla landfill site in New Delhi, India, is consistently in news for pollution levels higher than the city average. We report physicochemical analyses and taxonomic and functional characterization of microbial diversity from the Okhla landfill solid waste incubated with and without the root endophyte fungus, Piriformospora indica. Whole metagenome sequencing was performed to identify microbial community using Illumina NextSeq500 platform. The analyses revealed the major microbial communities involved in the biodegradation processes in the landfill site. Inoculation and incubation with P.indica did not alter or deter the existing microbial diversity and function in the landfill solid waste. In fact, the presence of the fungus enhanced bioavailability of few nutrients. The study lays the foundation for using this fungus as a biofertilizer for phytoremediation and reclamation of the landfill site. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge this is the first study on the microbial diversity and function of the Okhla landfill site.