STRUCTURE OF ACTINOMYCETE COMPLEXES IN DESERTS

The actinomycete complexes of three geographically remote subtropic de serts were characterized by the following common features: distinct ve rtical stratification of actinomycete density and taxonomic compositio n; peaks of density (per g substrate) in the on-soil layer, on roots, and in zoogenic substrates; a great share of monosporous actinomycetes in both plant substrates and soil; an abundance of dark-colored forms and great species diversity of streptomycetes in soil mineral horizon s. The similarity of the structure of actinomycete complexes in differ ent deserts can be considered a manifestation of the latitudinal zonal ity phenomenon at the level of prokaryotes.