Community Microorganism in the Thermophilic Phase during Cattle Manure Composting Process

Abstract

Abstract. This research was to determine biodiversity of eukaryotes during cattle manure composting process. Culture-independent approach was used to analyze biodiversity of compost microorganisms, based on differences in the 18S rRNA gene fragment sequences. The gene fragments were obtained by PCR amplification of total DNA and the different sequences were separated by DGGE apparatus. Community diversity of microorganisms can be revealed by grouping the eukaryotic microorganism represented by DGGE bands. The DGGE bands pattern showed that a number of eukaryotes bands appear and disappear during composting process. The variety of DGGE bands at thermophilic phase (60 ⁰C) was more diverse than that of the end of thermophilic phase (50 ⁰C). This indicates that the eukaryotic communities, especially at the thermophilic phase were persistent during the composting process. Besides the thermophilic bacteria found in compost, thermophilic eukaryotes also play important role in the composting process.

Keywords: Culture-Independent, DGGE, 18S rRNA, Thermophilic, manure compost