Functional characterization of soil microbial communities based on the utilization pattern of aromatic compounds

Microbial communities in a soil with different fertilizing practices were characterized based on the utilization pattern of 26 aromatic compounds as single substrates, which are considered to occur in the soil environment. Their utilization was detected by the dehydrogenase reaction with p-iodonitrophenyltetrazolium violet (INT) after 72 It or 7 d of incubation at 22degreesC. The compounds involved in the metabolic pathways of p-coumarate, hippurate, m-hydroxybenzoate, and vanilate were utilized in all the soils. o-Coumarate, p-methoxy cinnamate, and phenol were utilized only in the soils amended with farmyard manure, indicating the wider spectra of the compounds utilized. Inhibition by cycloheximide showed that fungi were essential in the utilization of mandelate, beta-resorcylate, phthalate, and terephthalate in the soils used and bacteria in the utilization of hippurate.