利用微生物防除根寄生杂草列当

根寄生杂草列当(Orobanche spp.)已经严重制约全球许多地区的农业发展,寻找有效防除措施迫在眉睫。由于列当具有特殊生活史且与寄主关系密切,常规防除杂草措施难以达到理想防效。目前,尚无既能有效防除列当又不对寄主造成危害且便于大规模推广应用的列当防除措施。在众多列当防除措施中,微生物防除越来越引起关注和重视。本文对微生物防除列当的国内外研究进展及防除机理进行了综述。目前,列当生防微生物的研究主要集中在镰刀菌(Fusarium spp.)等列当病原菌和根瘤菌(Rhizobium spp.)等列当寄主植物共生菌上。微生物防除列当的机制主要包括两方面:一是通过产生代谢产物直接影响列当的萌发和生长,或通过降解列当种子萌发诱导物质间接影响列当的萌发;二是通过提高寄主植物自身对列当的抗性间接影响列当的寄生和生长。此外,本文还重点介绍了植物土传病害的土壤拮抗微生物防除列当杂草的可行性及研究进展。植物土传病害病原菌和列当均首先通过在地下侵染作物的根系进而危害作物正常生长,而作物抗土传病害的机理也与抗列当的机理类似。因此,存在于土壤中具有防治植物土传病害能力的微生物可能也具有防除根寄生杂草列当的功能。本团队前期试验从植物土传病害的土壤拮抗微生物中筛选到在盆栽试验中能够有效防除向日葵列当(O.cumana Wallr.)和瓜列当(O.aegyptiaca Pers.)的放线菌各1株,分别为淡紫褐链霉菌(Streptomyces enissocaesilis Sveshnikova)和密旋链霉菌(Streptomyces pactum Bhuyan B.K)。其中,密旋链霉菌的菌剂在田间试验中既降低了瓜列当的出土数量又增加了番茄的产量。总之,微生物是防除根寄生杂草列当的一条有效途径。     

马铃薯对瓜列当种子萌发的化感作用研究

瓜列当给瓜类等经济作物造成较大危害。本研究采用盆栽4个推广马铃薯品种"夏波蒂"、"青薯168"、"冀张薯5号"和"克新1号",以不同生长时期(幼苗期、开花期和结薯期)马铃薯根际土、根系和地上部的浸提液(甲醇和水)刺激瓜列当种子萌发,根据发芽率来判定其对瓜列当化感作用的强弱,同时筛选刺激瓜列当发芽率高的品种用于列当杂草的防除。结果表明,马铃薯能刺激瓜列当种子萌发;不同马铃薯品种对瓜列当的化感作用各有差异,随着马铃薯的生长,根际土中化感物质积累不断升高,根系化感作用逐渐减弱,而地上部化感作用逐渐增强。甲醇浸提液刺激瓜列当种子发芽率高于水浸提液,即甲醇浸提化感作用效果较好。"夏波蒂"根系甲醇浸提液刺激瓜列当种子的发芽率在幼苗期最高,为48.5%;而地上部甲醇浸提液处理的发芽率在结薯期最高,为51.2%。可以在瓜列当危害的农田轮作"夏波蒂"5~8年,同时采用马铃薯秸秆还田来减少土壤中瓜列当种子库,达到防除瓜列当危害的目的。     

微白黄链霉菌对谷子萌发及拔节期生长的作用及机制

为探究外源放线菌对谷子种子萌发、拔节期植株生长的影响,本研究以一株微白黄链霉菌（Streptomyces albidoflavus）T4为供试菌株,以无菌水为对照,通过培养皿试验分析T4发酵液原液、10、100、1 000倍稀释液对谷子种子萌发的影响;以无菌剂添加处理作为对照,通过盆栽试验探究T4活菌制剂包衣和拌土对拔节期谷子植株生长及根际微生物的作用。结果表明,T4发酵液处理提高了谷子种子的萌发率,尤其以培养前期的提高幅度较大。T4发酵液的原液、10和100倍稀释液处理使谷子培养24 h后的萌发率与无菌水对照相比分别增加了5.8、6.7和9.2个百分点,100倍稀释液使谷子的发芽势、发芽指数和胚根长较对照分别提高了9.2个百分点、23.1%和13.4%。盆栽试验中,与无菌剂对照相比,包衣施加T4菌剂处理拔节期谷子地上植株生物量和根系生物量分别提高了22.5%和32.7%;根尖数和根分叉数分别增加了90.9%和66.9%;根际细菌（B）数量和微生物总数分别增加了95.1%和49.5%;真菌（F）数量减少了52.1%;放线菌（A）与真菌的数量比值（A/F）、细菌与真菌的数量比值（B/F）...     

硒砂瓜连作对土壤真菌群落结构的影响

硒砂瓜是宁夏地区重要的经济作物,其连作严重影响硒砂瓜产量和品质。目前硒砂瓜连作对土壤真菌群落结构的影响尚不清楚。本研究采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术,探讨硒砂瓜连作对土壤真菌群落结构的影响。研究发现,硒砂瓜连作土壤中真菌群落多样性指数和丰富度指数随连作年限的增加先上升后下降。供试土壤样本中共检测到真菌8门、25纲、244属,其中子囊菌门（Ascomycota）、接合菌门（Zygomycota）是优势菌门,占90%以上。与对照相比,连作30年土壤中子囊菌门丰度下降32.51%,接合菌门丰度上升29.89%。供试土壤中真菌主要的优势属为被孢霉属（Mortierella）、绿僵菌属（Metarhiziun）、假霉样真菌属（Pseudallescheria）、镰刀菌属（Fusarium）和青霉属（Penicillium）。与对照相比,连作5年土壤中假霉样真菌属丰度增加45.81%,连作10年土壤中镰刀菌属丰度增加26.74%,连作15年土壤中绿僵菌属下降26.83%,连作20年土壤中青霉属增加29.68%,连作25年土壤中绿僵菌属减少18.30%,连作30年土壤中被孢霉属丰度上升29.89%。土壤理化性质与硒砂瓜连作年限间无显著相关性,而与土壤真菌群落结构存在显著的相关性。土壤全磷、碱解氮、有效磷含量是影响土壤真菌群落最主要的因素。研究结果表明,导致硒砂瓜连作障碍的主要原因不是土壤理化性质变化,而是土壤真菌群落结构的改变。研究结果可为硒砂瓜土传病害的生物防治提供参考依据。     

连作番茄根区病土对番茄生长及土壤线虫与微生物的影响

探索连作番茄根区病土对番茄根结线虫病的诱导效果及引起连作障碍的微生态机制,可为深入了解番茄连作障碍发生机理及探究番茄连作障碍防治方法提供科学依据。本研究利用盆栽试验,测定了番茄在健康土壤及接种病土土壤中生物学特性变化及根结线虫侵染状况,并分析鉴定了土壤中微生物及线虫的种类与数量。结果表明,接种连作番茄根结线虫病株根区病土会对番茄生长及根结线虫侵染产生影响:1)番茄苗期根系根结数达9个?株~(-1),健康土壤无根结;土壤线虫数量较健康土壤增加390.4%;收获期番茄根结线虫侵染率达62.7%,病情指数为80.0%。2)番茄生长受到抑制,叶片防御酶活性降低,收获期茎叶及根系鲜质量较健康土壤分别减少50.2%及33.1%,苗期番茄叶片PPO活性较健康土壤降低15.8%,POD活性较健康土壤增加24.0%,差异均达显著水平(P0.05)。3)番茄根系更易感染有害菌,根系内病原菌甘蓝假单胞菌数量较健康土壤增加463倍,根区土壤细菌、真菌及放线菌总数分别增加46.3%、94.5%及134.0%。4)食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫及植物寄生性线虫数量分别为健康根区土壤的3.3倍、1.6倍及7.3倍,其中的植物寄生线虫95.6%为根结线虫。综上所述,接入连作番茄根结线虫病株根区病土不仅导致番茄遭受根结线虫侵染,而且会导致土壤线虫总量及植物寄生线虫所占比例大幅增加,并使番茄根系内有害细菌数量显著增加,对番茄生长造成显著抑制作用,同时影响番茄的生理生化特性,受线虫侵染番茄防御性酶活性降低,使其更易被根结线虫及病原菌侵染,番茄根区土壤线虫、微生物及根系内优势细菌的种类与数量及其之间的作用发生改变。     

复合菌剂防控香蕉枯萎病的效果及其微生物学机制

由病原菌尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型（Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc)）侵染引起的香蕉枯萎病对全世界香蕉产业带来了毁灭性的影响，且目前尚无广泛采用的防治方法。研究复合生防真菌制剂对香蕉枯萎病的防治效果，以期为大田香蕉枯萎病的防治提供依据。设置3组不同的菌剂处理，分别为对照组CK、复合菌剂NFP、复合菌剂NFPT，通过两季的盆栽试验，研究复合菌剂对香蕉枯萎病的防治效果及其对土壤微生物多样性的影响；利用 Illumina Miseq 高通量测序平台对细菌16S rRNA基因和真菌ITS区域进行测序分析，采用实时荧光qPCR定量分析各处理病原菌的数量。结果表明：（1）复合菌剂处理（NFP和NFPT）对香蕉枯萎病有较好的防治效果，其防效分别为43%和48%。（2）施用复合菌剂增加了细菌和真菌群落丰富度和多样性。基于Bray-curtis距离矩阵的主坐标分析（PCoA）结果表明NFP和NFPT改变了细菌和真菌群落结构。NFP和NFPT处理增加了潜在有益微生物中与香蕉枯萎病病情指数呈显著负相关的大理石雕菌属Marmoricola、类诺卡氏菌属Nocardioides、野野村式菌属Nonomuraea、 norank_c__Acidobacteria、DS-100属和norank_f__Blastocatellaceae__Subgroup_4属的相对丰度，显著减少了病原菌尖孢镰刀菌的数量，重塑了土壤微生物结构和功能，增强其抗病性。     

不同土壤改良剂处理对连作西洋参根际微生物数量、土壤酶活性及产量的影响

以北京地区连作西洋参为研究对象, 通过3种土壤改良剂(熟石灰、EM菌剂、沼液)随机区组试验对其土壤理化性状、酶活性、根际微生物区系及产量进行了系统研究。结果表明: 低浓度熟石灰、中浓度EM菌剂及高浓度沼液处理最有利于提高西洋参产量; 施加熟石灰处理后, 土壤微生物主要类群数量显著减少, 土壤pH显著升高, 并对土壤脲酶活性有明显抑制作用; 施加沼液和EM菌剂处理后, 土壤有效微生物菌群显著增加(P<0.05), 土壤有机质和营养物质含量也显著增加(P<0.05), 并对土壤脲酶和多酚氧化酶活性有一定的促进作用。相关性分析发现, 土壤微生物主要类群的数量与蔗糖酶、脲酶、多酚氧化酶活性均有一定的相关性, 其中, 土壤细菌数量与蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶活性呈极显著正相关(r分别为0.895^**和0.808^**), 土壤真菌和放线菌数量与蔗糖酶、脲酶、多酚氧化酶活性呈极显著正相关(r分别为0.932^**、0.769^**、0.840^**和0.837^**、0.891^**、0.797^**)。另外, 土壤细菌数量与有机质含量呈极显著正相关(r=0.863^**)。表明连作西洋参根际微生物区系及土壤酶活性与土壤理化性状之间紧密联系, 通过施加不同土壤改良剂, 可以为耐连作种植西洋参提供适宜的土壤环境。     

采用植物化感作用与诱捕作物消除列当土壤种子库

研究证明化感作用需要满足如下4个方面:1)供体植物释放化感物质使得受体植物受到连续和定量的影响;2)能从供体植物中分离、鉴定得到化感物质,而且这些化感物质无论是在室内还是在田间,都能对在自然生态系统中邻近的伴生植物产生效应;3)供体植物产生和释放的化感物质在自然条件下能以足够的浓度到达邻近受体植物;4)以足够生物活性到达受体植物的化感物质能够被吸收并能够影响受体植物的生理生化过程,而且这种影响必须排除受体植物的生长发育不是由于竞争、动物侵害、病菌感染以及物理环境等非化感因素产生的影响。列当是列当科(Orobanchaceae)列当属(Orobanche)的根寄生植物,是一种寄生于其他植物根部的全寄生植物。全世界已发现100种列当属根寄生植物,在我国危害较为严重的是向日葵列当(O.cumana)和瓜列当(O.aegyptiace)。向日葵列当主要分布在陕西北部、河北、新疆、山西、内蒙古及东北三省,主要危害向日葵。瓜列当主要分布在新疆,危害瓜类、番茄、马铃薯。列当杂草的种子体积小、重量轻(3~6μg),而且每株植物可以生产大量种子。这些种子数量巨大且在土壤中可以保持生存力长达15~20年以上。成熟后的列当种子需要经过一段时间的后熟过程,完成后熟的列当种子在发芽之前需要1~2周时间在一定的温度和湿度条件下进行预培养,预培养后的列当种子还必须从寄主那里获得一个化学物质才能发芽,在自然条件下这种发芽刺激物质是由寄主或非寄主植物的幼根分泌提供的。获得该物质后,列当种子的"发芽管"可在数日内长出种皮,之后在吸器诱导物质的作用下很快形成吸器,与寄主根吸附并穿入根内后与寄主根的木质部形成联结,从寄主植物那里竞争性地夺取水分、养分及生长激素。由于列当属植物是根寄生杂草,在没有长出地面之前,它已经给作物造成严重的伤害,所以不易控制,有效的途径是尽量减少土壤中的列当种子含量。诱捕作物是指该作物的根系能够分泌列当属植物种子发芽的刺激物质,但是又不会被列当正常寄生,诱捕作物本身可以进行正常收获。由于列当属植物种子的生命只有一次,发芽后不能寄生就会死亡,这种发芽又称之为"自杀发芽",如此可以在列当找不到寄主之前死亡,从而大大降低土壤中列当的种子库。本文介绍了作者项目组从事采用化感作用与诱捕作物(小麦、玉米、棉花、大豆等)消除列当土壤种子库最新研究进展。     

三七连作土壤对其种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

为明确三七连作的障碍效应,以不同连作年限及不同空间分布的土壤为基质,通过发芽和幼苗生长试验,研究了连作土壤对三七种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:①与新土相比,连作土壤处理下三七种子萌发的最大速度加快,种子的发芽势变化不大,而发芽率、发芽指数和快速发芽期则明显呈降低或变短的趋势;②随土壤连作年限的增加,三七幼苗的成苗率和株高均显著下降(p0.05);③与根区外土相比,根区土和根区下土显著降低了三七种子的发芽势、发芽率和发芽指数,对种子萌发的最大速度也呈降低作用,但却使三七幼苗的地上生物量明显增加。连作土壤对三七种子的萌发及幼苗的生长均表现明显的障碍效应,化感(自毒)作用可能是造成三七连作障碍的原因之一。     

培养基质对丛枝菌根(AM)真菌生长发育的影响

温室条件下，以盆栽培养方法研究不同培养基质对丛枝菌根(Arbuscular Mycorrhizae,AM)真菌Glomus mosseae生长发育的影响。结果表明：不同理化性质的基质对菌根共生体生长发育的影响不同，综合考虑菌根长度、根外菌丝量及孢子数3项指标,以沙土混合物(体积比3∶1)对G. mosseae菌剂的生长发育最为有利。宿主植物菌根长度及根中的可溶性糖浓度与根外孢子数有正相关关系，而宿主植物中磷浓度与菌根真菌的生长发育也有类似的关系。说明培养基质的养分状况、水分状况、通气状况等诸多因素都会影响菌根共生体的建立和发展。宿主植物的菌根长度、根中可溶性糖浓度以及宿主植物磷浓度对菌根真菌的生长发育有显著影响。因此，工厂化AM菌剂生产中，应以沙土混合物(体积比3∶1)为生产G. mosseae菌剂的培养基质。     

Changes in rhizosphere microbial activity mediated by native or allochthonous AM fungi in the reafforestation of a Mediterranean degraded environment

This study was carried out in a semiarid degraded area to assess the effectiveness of mycorrhizal inoculation with a mixture of native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or an allochthonous AM fungus (Glomus claroideum), on the establishment of Olea europaea subsp. sylvestris L. and Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boissier in this area. Associated changes in the soil microbiological properties and aggregate stability related to these AM inocula were also recorded. Eighteen months after planting, G. claroideum had increased available P in the rhizosphere of both shrub species. In general, both inoculation treatments increased water-soluble C and water-soluble and total carbohydrates, G. claroideum being the most effective inoculum, particularly in R. sphaerocarpa. The mixture of native AM fungi was the most effective treatment for increasing the aggregate stability of R. sphaerocarpa soil, while that of O. europaea was increased only by G. claroideum. Increased (dehydrogenase, urease, protease-BAA, acid phosphatase and -glucosidase) enzyme activities, in particular of dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase, were recorded in the rhizosphere of both mycorrhizal shrub species. The mixture of native AM fungi was the most effective treatment for stimulating the growth of O. europaea and R. sphaerocarpa (11.6-fold and 3.3-fold, respectively, greater than control plants). The establishment of mycorrhizal shrub species favoured the reactivation of soil microbial activity, which was linked to an increase in aggregate stability.     

Rhodotorulic acid enhances root colonization of tomato plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi due to its stimulatory effect on the pre-symbiotic stages of the AM fungi

Exudates of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, a yeast commonly found in the rhizosphere, increased hyphal length of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Gigaspora rosea and Gigaspora margarita. Rhodotorulic acid (RA), a siderophore compound obtained from R. mucilaginosa exudates, increased hyphal length and branching. Thus, the increase in the number of entry points and the higher AM root colonization of tomato plants in the presence of RA can at least partially be explained by the positive effect of RA on the pre-symbiotic stages of the AM fungi.     

The bacterial community of tomato rhizosphere is modified by inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but unaffected by soil enrichment with mycorrhizal root exudates or inoculation with Phytophthora nicotianae

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been shown to induce the biocontrol of soilborne diseases, to change the composition of root exudates and to modify the bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere, leading to the formation of the mycorrhizosphere. Tomato plants were grown in a compartmentalized soil system and were either submitted to direct mycorrhizal colonization or to enrichment of the soil with exudates collected from mycorrhizal tomato plants, with the corresponding negative controls. Three weeks after planting, the plants were inoculated or not with the soilborne pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae growing through a membrane from an adjacent infected compartment. At harvest, a PCR-Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from the total DNA extracted from each plant rhizosphere was performed. Root colonization with the AM fungi Glomus intraradices or Glomus mosseae induced significant changes in the bacterial community structure of tomato rhizosphere, compared to non-mycorrhizal plants, while enrichment with root exudates collected from mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal plants had no effect. Our results support that the effect of AM fungi on rhizosphere bacteria would not be mediated by compounds present in root exudates of mycorrhizal plants but rather by physical or chemical factors associated with the mycelium, volatiles and/or root surface bound substrates. Moreover, infection of mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal plants with P. nicotianae did not significantly affect the bacterial community structure suggesting that rhizosphere bacteria would be less sensitive to the pathogen invasion than to mycorrhizal colonization. Of 96 unique sequences detected in the tomato rhizosphere, eight were specific to mycorrhizal fungi, including two Pseudomonas, a Bacillus simplex, an Herbaspirilium and an Acidobacterium. One Verrucomicrobium was common to rhizospheres of mycorrhizal plants and of plants watered with mycorrhizal root exudates.     

羟基磷灰石–植物联合修复对Cu/Cd污染植物根际 土壤微生物群落的影响

针对江西贵溪Cu、Cd重金属污染土壤,通过田间试验,比较无机生物材料羟基磷灰石及3种植物(海州香薷、巨菌草、伴矿景天)与羟基磷灰石联合修复对土壤总Cu、Cd的吸收及对活性Cu、Cd的钝化吸收能力差异。采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)分析法,比较不同修复模式对土壤微生物群落结构的影响,以评估土壤微生态环境对不同修复措施的响应。研究结果表明:羟基磷灰石的施加可显著提高土壤pH,并有效钝化土壤活性Cu、Cd含量,但对土壤总Cu、Cd的含量影响较小。植物与羟基磷灰石的联合修复在显著降低土壤活性Cu、Cd(P0.05)的同时,减少了植物根际土壤总Cu、Cd的含量(P0.05)。不同修复措施对土壤微生物群落组成影响差异明显。单独施加羟基磷灰石与土壤真菌群落呈显著正相关,使土壤真菌生物量提高,从而引起真菌/细菌(F/B)的升高。植物与羟基磷灰石的联合修复可有效缓解土壤真菌化的趋势,其中巨菌草与羟基磷灰石的联合修复可有效提高土壤革兰氏阳性、革兰氏阴性细菌生物量及多样性,降低F/B值,从而降低土壤真菌病害的风险。不同植物根系活性代谢引起有机质的积累促进植物与羟基磷灰石处理中根际有机碳含量显著提高。聚类增强树(Aggregated boosted tree,ABT)分析结果表明:不同修复模式是影响土壤微生物群落的重要因素,其次土壤pH和Cu的含量及活性也是改变重金属污染区域微生物群落的因子。该研究从微生物群落结构角度解释了植物与羟基磷灰石联合修复对土壤微生态体系的作用,为开展Cu、Cd等重金属污染地植物与无机生物材料的联合修复方式的筛选及实施提供可靠的理论依据。     

Rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Strain SQRT3-Mediated Induced Systemic Resistance Controls Bacterial Wilt of Tomato

Tomato bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum seriously threats tomato growth in tropical and temperate regions around the world. This study reported an antagonistic bacterial strain, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain SQRT3, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of tomato plants, which strongly inhibited in vitro growth of pathogenic R. solanacearum. The suppression of tomato bacterial wilt by strain SQRT3 was demonstrated under greenhouse conditions. Additionally, induced systemic resistance (ISR) in tomato as one of the potential disease suppression mechanisms was investigated in the plants inoculated with the isolated bacterial strain SQRT3. The results showed that strain SQRT3 applied with R. solanacearum by drenching significantly reduced tomato bacterial wilt by 68.1% biocontrol efficiency (BE) and suppressed the R. solanacearum populations in the rhizosphere soil compared to the control only drenched with R. solanacearum. The BE of the isolated bacterial strain SQRT3 against tomato wilt increased to 84.1% by root-dipping. Tomato plants treated with both strain SQRT3 and R. solanacearum showed increases in activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase compared with other treatments. The application of strain SQRT3 reduced membrane lipid peroxidation in tomato leaves. The expressions of marker genes for jasmonic acid-and salicylic acid-dependent signaling pathways were faster and stronger in tomato plants treated with both strain SQRT3 and R. solanacearum than in plants treated with either R. solanacearum or strain SQRT3 alone. Collectively, the findings indicated that strain SQRT3 can effectively control tomato wilt.     

Abundance of Frankia from Gymnostoma spp. in the rhizosphere of Alphitonia neocaledonica, a non-nodulated Rhamnaceae endemicto New Caledonia

The capacity of different soils of New Caledonia to induce nodulation in Gymnostoma poissonianum was studied. The soils were sampled under five Gymnostoma species, Alphitonia neocaledonica (a non-nodulated endemic Rhamnaceae) and Pinus caribea (an introduced species) growing in various ecological conditions. Using G. poissonianum as trap-host, we observed a higher abundance of Frankia from Gymnostoma spp. in the rhizosphere of A. neocaledonica as compared with bare soils and P. caribea rhizosphere. The nodulating capacity of A. neocaledonica rhizosphere was almost similar to that of the five Gymnostoma species (symbiotic host) studied in the same stations. In comparison, bare soils or rhizosphere of P. caribea had poor nodulating capacities. We isolated fourteen Frankia strains from nodules of G. poissonianum after baiting with the rhizospheric soils of five Gymnostoma and A. neocaledonica. Using the PCR/RFLP method, we confirmed the similarity with those already described. Frankia was abundant in the rhizosphere of A. neocaledonica in all the sites studied. One explanation could be a positive tropism of Frankia towards species belonging to families having nodulated species, which is the case of A. neocaledonica endemic in New Caledonia. We can suppose that the non-nodulated plants belonging to these families can excrete some chemical substances able to attract Frankia and to induce its proliferation.     

Phosphate solubilization by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> spp. closely associated with wheat roots

In this study we found that Penicillium spp. exhibiting P-solubilizing activity are common both on and in the roots of wheat plants grown in southern Australian agricultural soils. From 2,500 segments of washed and surface-disinfested root pieces, 608 and 223 fungi were isolated on a selective medium, respectively. All isolates were screened for P solubilization on solid medium containing hydroxyapatite (HA); 47 isolates (5.7%) solubilized HA and were identified as isolates of Penicillium or its teleomorphs. These isolates were evaluated for solubilization of Idaho rock phosphate (RP) in liquid culture. Penicillium bilaiae strain RS7B-SD1 was the most effective, mobilizing 101.7 mg P l^–1 after 7 days. Other effective isolates included Penicillium simplicissimum (58.8 mg P l^–1), five strains of Penicillium griseofulvum (56.1–47.6 mg P l^–1), Talaromyces flavus (48.6 mg P l^–1) and two unidentified Penicillium spp. (50.7 and 50 mg P l^–1). A newly isolated strain of Penicillium radicum (KC1-SD1) mobilized 43.3 mg P l^–1. RP solubilization, biomass production and solution pH for P. bilaiae RS7B-SD1, P. radicum FRR4718 or Penicillium sp. 1 KC6-W2 was determined over time. P. bilaiae RS7B-SD1 solubilized the greatest amount of RP (112.7 mg P l^–1) and had the highest RP-solubilizing activity per unit of biomass produced (up to 603.2 g P l^–1 mg biomass^–1 at 7 days growth). This study has identified new isolates of Penicillium fungi with high mineral phosphate solubilizing activity. These fungi are being investigated for the ability to increase crop production on strong P-retaining soils in Australia.     

Reduction in dose of chemical fertilizers and growth enhancement of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) with application of rhizospheric competent Pseudomonas aeruginosa LES4

Pseudomonas aeruginosa LES4, an isolate of tomato rhizosphere was found to be positive for several plant growth-promoting attributes like production of indole acetic acid, HCN and siderophore, solubilization of inorganic phosphate along with urease, chitinase and β-1-3-glucanase activity. In addition, it showed strong antagonistic effect against Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum. P. aeruginosa LES4 caused halo cell formation and other morphological deformities in mycelia of M. phaseolina and F. oxysporum. Root colonization was studied with Tn5 induced streptomycin resistant transconjugants of spontaneous tetracycline-resistant LES4 (designated LES4^tetra+strep+) after different durations. The strain was significantly rhizospheric competent, as 17.4% increase in its population was recorded in sesame rhizosphere. Seed bacterization with LES4 resulted in significant increase in vegetative growth parameters and yield of sesame over non-bacterized seeds. However, application of LES4 with half dose of fertilizers resulted in growth equivalent to full dose treatment, without compromising with the growth and yield of sesame. Moreover, the oil yield increased by 33.3%, while protein yield increased by 47.5% with treatment of half dose of fertilizer along with LES 4 bacterized seeds, as compared to full dose of fertilizers.