Evolution of the bacterial community during granules formation in denitrifying reactors followed by molecular, culture-independent techniques.

The microbial community in two acetate-fed denitrifying reactors, inoculated with methanogenic sludge, was monitored by 16S rDNA-based methods (SSCP and FISH). Both reactors converged to similar, stable communities. The predominant organisms belonged to the genera Thauera, Paracoccus and Denitrobacter, detected both by molecular and culture-based methods.