Effect of Scripus triqueter of its rhizosphere and root exudates on microbial community structure of simulated diesel-spiked wetland

• The relative abundance of bacterial PLFAs were far more than fungal PLFAs.
• Aerobic bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria were dominant microbial groups.
• The presence of ST with palmitic acid increased microbial diversity.

In this work, an investigation was conducted to probe the effect of Scripus triqueter and palmitic acid on microbial community structure of simulated diesel-spiked wetland by using the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) method. The pots were divided into three groups: only diesel-spiked wetland (DN), diesel-spiked wetland planted with Scripus triqueter (DST) and DST inoculated with 400 mg kg−1 of palmitic acid (DSTP). PLFAs of wetland soil samples were analyzed by GC–MS. The PLFA biomarkers indicated that the relative abundance of bacterial PLFAs were far more than fungal PLFAs, aerobic bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria were dominant microbial groups. It was found that the characteristic ratios (aerobic/anaerobic, Gram-positive/Gram-negative, fungal/bacteria) in DSTP were distinct from DN and DST, and the presence of ST with palmitic acid increased microbial abundance.Principal component analysis of phospholipid fatty acid showed that microbial community structure of DSTP was different from DN and DST. All results showed that microbial community structure of simulated diesel-spiked wetland was changed by ST with/without palmitic acid.