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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #227021
Title: Pressurized Liquid Extraction of Soil Microbial Phospholipid and Neutral Lipid Fatty Acids

Author
item White, Paul
item Potter, Thomas
item Strickland, Timothy

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/2009
Publication Date: 7/22/2009
Citation: White Jr, P.M., Potter, T.L., Strickland, T.C. 2009. Pressurized Liquid Extraction of Soil Microbial Phospholipid and Neutral Lipid Fatty Acids. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 57(16):7171-7177.

Interpretive Summary: Soil microbial lipid biomarkers are indicators of viable microbial biomass and community structure. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of soil phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFA) was compared to a conventional extraction method in four soils with differing physical and chemical properties. PLE extraction efficiency was greater than the conventional method for about half of the saturated PLFA, and for selected other gram positive and gram negative bacteria PLFA, fungal PLFA, and for eukaryotic NLFA from a coarse-textured soil. Lipids extracted by the two methods did not indicate a significant difference microbial community structure data. Principle components analysis revealed that PLFA were similar by location, with data indicating that the group of microbial lipids contributing the greatest weight differed among soils. Overall the PLE method proved to be more efficient at extracting soil-borne microbial lipids while not altering microbial community information. These advantages indicate the PLE method is robust and well-suited to soil microbial ecology research.

Technical Abstract: Soil microbial lipid biomarkers are indicators of viable microbial biomass and community structure. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of soil phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFA) was compared to a conventional extraction method in four soils with differing physical and chemical properties. PLE extraction efficiency was greater than the conventional method for about half of the saturated PLFA, and for selected other gram positive and gram negative bacteria PLFA, fungal PLFA, and for eukaryotic NLFA from a coarse-textured soil. Lipids extracted by the two methods did not indicate a significant difference microbial community structure data. Principle components analysis revealed that PLFA were similar by location, with data indicating that the group of microbial lipids contributing the greatest weight differed among soils. Overall the PLE method proved to be more efficient at extracting soil-borne microbial lipids while not altering microbial community information. These advantages indicate the PLE method is robust and well-suited to soil microbial ecology research.