Phylogenetic diversity of methanogenic archaea in swine waste storage pits

Total DNA was isolated from swine feces and a swine waste storage pit and u sed as templates for PCR amplification of archaeal 16 rDNA using specific p rimers. Only the sample from the center of the waste pit produced a PCR pro duct. DNA sequence analyses of random clones demonstrated a variety of meth anogenic archaea. Six groups of sequences were identified, including those similar to Methanobrevibacter sp., Methanocorpusculum sp., and Methanoculle us sp. Three groups of sequences represented unidentified organisms. These data suggest that swine waste storage pits may represent an untapped source of novel methanogenic archaea. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiolog ical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.