Abstract:The clusters and succession rules of archaeal in the mud pit was studied by PCR-DGGE and sequencing of 16S rDNA. The total DNAs were extracted from the mud pit with cellar age of 30, 100 and 200 years, respectively. The results showed that 14 to 17 clear bands were displayed in each grain sample from DGGE grams, among which band 4, 7 and 11 were detected and showed relatively high dominant degree above 4% in all samples. The diversity indexes of all samples were between 1.91 and 2.29, with the increase of cellar age showed an increasing trend. The similarity indexes of samples were between 0.43 and 0.61. Meanwhile, the similarity index between 30 years and 100 years was reached to 0.61. Therefore, they were clustered into one group, compared with 200 years which was divided into two groups. The PCR-DGGE dominant bands tapping results showed that the archaeal belonged to Methanogenic archaeon,Methanoculleus sp, Methanosarcinales archaeon and Rumen archaeon.
