Revisiting the succession of microbial populations throughout composting: A matter of thermotolerance

Composting has been traditionally considered a process in which a succession of mesophilic and thermophilic microbial populations occurs due to temperature changes. In order to deepen in this model, 1380 bacterial and fungal strains (the entire culturable microbiota isolated from a composting process) were investigated for their ability to grow across a wide range of temperatures (20 to 60 °C). First, qualitative tests were performed to establish a thermal profile for each strain. Then, quantitative tests allowed ascertaining the extent of growth for each strain at each of the tested temperatures. The identity of the isolates enabled to position them taxonomically and permitted tracking the strains throughout the process. Results showed that 90% of the isolates were classified as thermotolerant (they grew at all tested temperatures). Only 9% and 1% of the studied strains showed to be strictly mesophilic or thermophilic, respectively. Firmicutes exhibited the greatest thermal plasticity, followed by Actinobacteria and Ascomycota. Most of the Proteobacteria and all Basidiomycota strains were also able to grow at all the assayed temperatures. Thermotolerance was clearly demonstrated among the composting microbiota, suggesting that the idea of the succession of mesophilic and thermophilic populations throughout the process might need a reassessment.