This award supports U.S.-Belgium cooperative research in systematic biology between Ariena H.C. van Bruggen of the University of California at Davis and Monique Gillis of Ryks University in Gent, Belgium. The objective of their research is to investigate the taxonomy of the genus Rhizomonas and recently isolated Rhizomonas-like bacteria. The investigators will determine the relationships among soil borne bacteria closely related to Rhizomonas and classify the different groups found within Rhizomonas. They will use modern methods of DNA and RNA sequencing, hybridization studies in developing data for classification of the groups. The U.S. group brings to this collaboration their expertise in rDNA sequencing. This is complemented by the Gent's group expertise in DNA and RNA hybridization and their extensive data base on bacterial genera. The taxonomy and relationships among groups of soil-borne bacteria have not been studied widely despite their possible use for biological control of plant pathogens and Further classification will provide scientists with a means for differentiating among useful and harmful bacteria. The project will provide new data on rRNA methods system that could be applied to the classification of the majority of bacteria.
