EMERGING METHODOLOGIES FOR THE MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF SOIL MICROBIOTA FROM POLLUTED SOIL SITES

Abstract

The soil microbiome performs a wide range of crucial functions; however, we have a limited understanding of its biodiversity. Extracting microbes from polluted sites could reveal potential microbes that could be used to mitigate pollution better than conventional microbes. Soil DNA may be extracted directly, amplified using polymerase chain reaction, and profiled to reveal more about the soil microbiome’s taxonomy and function than ever before. Current procedures frequently combine DNA sequencing with other methods like denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), amplified ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA), and cloning. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are discussed, and new developments that have relevance as an appliance shedding light on the soil microbial ecology are also included. Soil diversity cannot be assessed using just one approach; therefore, picking the right one and using newly discovered information can significantly improve our understanding of soil microbes for their specific applications in mitigating.