FIG. 4.

DGGE patterns of 16S rRNA gene sequences during litter decomposition in soil in central Germany. Lanes 1, 6, 13, and 18, marker; lanes 2 to 12, five decomposition stages for wheat straw on days 0, 18, 58, 118, and 180 (W0, W18, W58, W118, and W180, respectively) (duplicate samples); lanes 14 to 17, rye grass on day 18 in soil in northern and southern Germany (R18n and R18s, respectively) (duplicate samples). The two replicates obtained on day 0 were derived from the second extract since DGGE for the first extract was not successful (see Fig. 6).