Analysis of cyanobacterial diversity of some hot springs in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Abstract

The cyanobacterial diversity of Ömerli, Akkuş-Gazlıgöl, and Hüdai-Sandıklı hot springs in Afyonkarahisar District in Turkey were analysed and compared using cultivation and cultivation-independent methods, including DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and cloning of PCR-amplified fragments of 16S rRNA genes. Cultivation studies revealed that a total of 74 isolates had 6 different ARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis) profiles and they were identified at the genus level and all cyanobacterial isolates were phylogenetically related to Fischerella, Geitlerinema/Leptolyngbya laminosa and uncultured cyanobacterium genus. A total of 97 clones from 16S rRNA gene library was analysed by ARDRA. 16S rRNA sequence analysis of these clones revealed that the cyanobacterial clones were related to 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from environmental samples, Geitlerinema and Leptolyngbya laminosa genus members. DGGE analysis revealed Geitlerinema, Cyanobacterium, and Phormidium genus, and 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from environmental samples. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing with DGGE analysis showed that the most frequent sequences in Ömerli, Akkuş-Gazlıgöl and Hüdai-Sandıklı samples were affiliated with Geitlerinema. This work highlights the cyanobacterial diversity of Afyonkarahisar hot springs.