Distribution of rare actinomycetes in Japanese soils

• Published in: Journal of fermentation technology (Osaka. 1977) Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 367 - 373
• Main Authors: Hayakawa, Masayuki, Ishizawa, Kenya, Nonomura, Hideo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Osaka Elsevier B.V 1988; Society of Fermentation Technology
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbial ecology; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Soil; Soil science; Japan; Environmental factor; Microflora; Digitizing; Identification; Strain; Humus; Asia; PH; Soil; Bacteria; Isolation; Actinomycetes
• ISSN: 0385-6380
• DOI: 10.1016/0385-6380(88)90001-5

The distribution of rare actinomycetes in 237 soil samples from various locations throughout Japan was investigated using a special isolation medium, HV agar. The populations (colony forming units) of these actinomycetes per gram of dried soil were Microtetraspora 6 × 10 3, Saccharomonospora 1.7 × 10 4, Dactylosporangium 5.4 × 10 4, Streptosporangium 1.2 × 10 5, Microbispora 1.4 × 10 5, Nocardioforms 1.9 × 10 5, and Micromonospora 6.8 × 10 5. Streptomycetes 2.2 × 10 6, and Unidentified actinomycetes 0.9 × 10 6 were also observed. Their distributions seemed to be associated with environmental factors such as soil type (Land Use Classification), soil pH, humus content, and the characteristics of the humic acid. In general, the largest populations were found in soils of cultivated fields, which were rich in humus and had pH values between 6.5–7.0. However, the distribution of some genera in cultivated field soils (154 samples) was remarkable. The numbers of Microbispora and Streptosporangium were the largest in humus-rich acidic (pH 5.0–6.05) soils with low humic acid Δ log K values (black colored humic acid). Saccharomonospora was found most frequently in relatively humus-poor alkaline (pH 7.0–7.5) soils having higher Δ log K values (brown humic acid). Dactylosporangium and Microtetraspora, Saccharomonospora, and Micromonospora were most frequently isolated from mountainous forest soils, level-land forest or cultivated field soils, and pasture soils, respectively.