PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA INCREASE GROWTH,YIELD AND NITROGEN FIXATION IN PHASEOLUS VULGARIS

Nitrogen (N) fixation by legume-Rhizobium symbiosis is important to agricultural productivity and is therefore of great economic interest. Growing evidence indicates that soil beneficial bacteria can positively affect symbiotic performance of rhizobia. The effect of co-inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Rhizobium, on nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars was investigated in two consecutive years under field conditions. The PGPR strains Pseudomonas fluorescens P-93 and Azospirillum lipoferum S-21 as well as two highly effective Rhizobium strains were used in this study. Common bean seeds of three cultivars were inoculated with Rhizobium singly or in a combination with PGPR to evaluate their effect on nodulation and nitrogen fixation. A significant variation of plant growth in response to inoculation with Rhizobium strains was observed. Treatment with PGPR significantly increased nodule number and dry weight, shoot dry weight, amount of nitrogen fixed as well as seed yield and protein content. Co-inoculation with Rhizobium and PGPR demonstrated a significant increase in the proportion of nitrogen derived from atmosphere. These results indicate that PGPR strains have potential to enhance the symbiotic potential of rhizobia.     

Impact of single and co-inoculations with Rhizobial and PGPR isolates on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in cereal-growing zone soil

Strains isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rhizospheric soil from selected sites in Algeria were screened for their plant-growth-promoting potential, for indole acetic acid production and P solubilization ability. Then, we selected native rhizobial strains with high nitrogen-fixing potential. On the basis of their efficiency under controlled conditions, two plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates and three nodulating bacteria were selected. Then, the effect of single PGPR isolates inoculation was compared to their combination with rhizobial inoculants on plant growth, on native cereal-growing soils under greenhouse conditions. No effects were observed on chickpea yield by using rhizobial inoculation alone, nor by PGPR-rhizobial co-inoculation on two soils presenting weak and no nodulation pattern in natural conditions. Only PGPR inoculation improved growth of plants on soil with no nodulation pattern. These findings emphasized inoculation on native soils at a little scale before large assays on field because no one could predict inocula behavior with native soil microflora.     

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are soil bacteria with some beneficial effects on soil properties, plant growth and the environment. In this article, some of the most important advancements in the field of PGPR and their related properties are presented. Such knowledge can be important for understanding regarding the use of PGPR for different uses such as biological fertilization and alleviation of different stresses on plant growth and the environment.     

粪肥施用土壤抗生素抗性基因来源、转移及影响因素

随着新型抗生素开发速度的不断下降以及抗性基因(Antibiotic resistant genes,ARGs)的快速出现和传播,细菌抗药性和ARGs对公共健康存在威胁,被公认为当前全球亟待解决的难题。虽然土壤本底存在ARGs,但畜禽粪便施用等人类活动加速了ARGs在土壤环境中的扩散和传播。粪肥施入土壤后,其对土壤微生物的抗性选择压力及基因水平转移导致的ARGs扩散转移将持续存在。畜禽粪便中的抗性细菌所携带的ARGs、土壤中抗生素累积导致微生物产生的ARGs和粪肥刺激含有ARGs微生物的繁殖等均为土壤中ARGs的主要来源。土壤中ARGs可以向水体和农作物传移,并随着食物链向动物及人类传播。自然因素(温度、降水、时间和土壤类型)和人为因素(抗生素的含量和种类、粪便种类和处理方式、重金属含量及生物质炭添加)均会影响土壤中ARGs的持久和扩散。目前,粪肥施用土壤中ARGs污染对环境质量及健康的潜在影响并不完全清楚,建议加强模型建立、溯源、生物地理分布、从污染源向环境介质的转移规律、削减措施和机制等方面研究,以有效遏制ARGs在环境中的污染,真正做到畜禽粪便资源化、无害化利用。     

Encapsulation of plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria—prospects and potential in agricultural sector: a review

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of bacteria that can enhance plant growth. In fact, PGPR are biologically unstable and the bacteria activity degrades over time due to environmental factors, survival rate in soils, the compatibility with the crop and the interaction ability with the indigenous microflora in soil. Therefore, the utilization of PGPR as plant growth promoter agent is a major challenge in the agricultural sectors because of their bioactivity degradation needs to be inhibited to maximize its function as a plant growth promoter. The application of delivery system based on encapsulation technology shows a promising technique to store and deliver PGPR. However, the task to find the appropriate PGPR encapsulation method is the most challenging for agricultural industry. In addition, the lack of knowledge on the action mechanism of encapsulated PGPR, physico-chemical properties and their survival in the environment are the many challenges need to be addressed. In the present review, the encapsulation technology of PGPR and its properties have been reviewed in detail. Moreover, the remaining technical challenges of encapsulation systems including insignificant stabilization of PGPR, instability of the environmental and difficulty of their preparation are also extensively discussed here.     

东北黑土区大豆根际促生菌群落组成研究

为明确东北黑土区大豆根际促生菌的群落组成,选择内蒙古自治区鄂温克族自治旗、黑龙江省海伦市、黑龙江省克山县和黑龙江省农垦红兴隆农场4个采样点,分析了大豆根际自生固氮菌、解磷菌、溶磷菌和硅酸盐细菌的群落组成,解析了促生菌种与地域之间的对应关系。结果表明:东北黑土区的大豆根际土壤中存在大量促生菌,自生固氮菌达到104cfu.g 1,溶磷菌和解磷菌达到105cfu.g 1,硅酸盐细菌达到103cfu.g 1;分离得到具有自生固氮能力的菌株5株,溶磷菌6株,解磷菌7株,硅酸盐细菌4株;自生固氮菌多样性指数在0.94~1.60之间,溶磷菌多样性指数在0.83~1.52之间,解磷菌的多样性指数在1.07~1.67之间,硅酸盐细菌多样性指数在0.52~0.96之间,4个取样点大豆根际促生菌的多样性指数均大于2。采用对应分析确定了不同地区的典型促生菌,内蒙古鄂温克族自治旗的特征种为自生固氮菌LLN8(Azotobacter beijerinckia indica),黑龙江省海伦市的特征种为溶磷菌DHS13(Micrococcus),黑龙江省克山县的特征种为溶磷菌DHS19(Pseudomo-nas),黑龙江省红兴隆农场的特征种为自生固氮菌LLN1(A.chrooco-ccum)和溶磷菌DHS5(Azotobacter)。同时明确了LLN2(A.azomonas)、LLN6(Bacillus mucilaginosus)、DHS9(Arthrobacter)、DHSO2(Pseudomonas)、DHSO14(Erwinia)、DHSO17(Corynebacterium)和LSJ21(Bacillus)在东北黑土区大豆根际分布较为广泛,这些菌株为研发中国东北黑土区大豆专用型复合生物肥料提供了基础条件。     

Effects of long-term manure applications on the occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in paddy soils: Evidence from four field experiments in south of China

Most studies of the effects of manure amendment on the occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil employ the investigation of grab samples or short-term laboratory studies. However, the effects of long-term manure applications on antibiotics, ARGs and their vertical distribution in paddy soil in field experiments are lacking. We assessed the concentrations of antibiotics, ARGs and their vertical distribution in paddy soil receiving long-term manure applications in four field experiments. High concentrations of tetracyclines were detected in most manured soils, while sulfonamides were not detectable. Long-term manure amendments generally increased the antibiotic concentrations and ARGs abundances in the paddy soil over decades. However, in some sites such significant trends of ARGs could not be observed. The abundance of ARGs was statistically correlated with antibiotics and soil properties including pH and soil organic matter (SOM), indicating their importance in the selection of resistance genes. Tetracyclines could be detected in soil at different depths and the concentrations of tetracyclines and abundance of ARGs generally decreased with increasing soil depths.     

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria--alleviators of abiotic stresses in soil: A review

With the continuous increase in human population,there is widespread usage of chemical fertilizers that are responsible for introducing abiotic stresses in agricultural crop lands.Abiotic stresses are major constraints for crop yield and global food security and therefore require an immediate response.The implementation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR)into the agricultural production system can be a profitable alternative because of its efficiency in plant growth regulation and abiotic stress management.These bacteria have the potential to promote plant growth and to aid in the management of plant diseases and abiotic stresses in the soil through production of bacterial phytohormones and associated metabolites as well as through significant root morphological changes.These changes result in improved plant-water relations and nutritional status in plants and stimulate plants’defensive mechanisms to overcome unfavorable environmental conditions.Here,we describe the significance of plant-microbe interactions,highlighting the role of PGPR,bacterial phytohormones,and bacterial metabolites in relieving abiotic environmental stress in soil.Further research is necessary to gather in-depth knowledge on PGPR-associated mechanisms and plant-microbe interactions in order to pave a way for field-scale application of beneficial rhizobacteria,with the aim of building a healthy and sustainable agricultural system.Therefore,this review aims to emphasize the role of PGPR in growth promotion and management of abiotic soil stress with the goal of developing an eco-friendly and cost-effective strategy for future agricultural sustainability.     

Siderophore-Producing Rhizobacteria as a Promising Tool for Empowering Plants to Cope with Iron Limitation in Saline Soils: A Review

Iron (Fe) bioavailability to plants is reduced in saline soils; however, the exact mechanisms underlying this effect are not yet completely understood. Siderophore-expressing rhizobacteria may represent a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers by simultaneously tackling salt-stress effects and Fe limitation in saline soils. In addition to draught, plants growing in arid soils face two other major challenges:high salinity and Fe deficiency. Salinity attenuates growth, affects plant physiology, and causes nutrient imbalance, which is, in fact, one of the major consequences of saline stress. Iron is a micronutrient essential for plant development, and it is required by several metalloenzymes involved in photosynthesis and respiration. Iron deficiency is associated with chlorosis and low crop productivity. The role of microbial siderophores in Fe supply to plants and the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the mitigation of saline stress in crop culture are well documented. However, the dual effect of siderophore-producing PGPR, both on salt stress and Fe limitation, is still poorly explored. This review provides a critical overview of the combined effects of Fe limitation and soil salinization as challenges to modern agriculture and intends to summarize some indirect evidence that argues in favour of siderophore-producing PGPR as biofertilization agents in salinized soils. Recent developments and future perspectives on the use of PGPR are discussed as clues to sustainable agricultural practices in the context of present and future climate change scenarios.     

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria as transplant amendments and their effects on indigenous rhizosphere microorganisms

Field trials were conducted in Florida on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) to monitor the population dynamics of two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains (Bacillus subtilis strain GBO3 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a) applied in the potting media at seeding and at various times after transplanting to the field during the growing season. In-field drenches of an aqueous bacterial formulation were used for the mid-season applications. The effects of the applied PGPR and application methods on bacterial survival, rhizosphere colonization, plant growth and yield, and selected indigenous rhizosphere microorganisms were assessed. The Gram-positive PGPR applied to the potting media established stable populations in the rhizosphere that persisted throughout the growing season. Additional aqueous applications of PGPR during the growing season did not increase the population size of applied strains compared to treatments only receiving bacteria in the potting media; however, they did increase plant growth compared to the untreated control to varying degrees in both trials. Most treatments also reduced disease incidence in a detached leaf assay, indicating that systemic resistance was induced by the PGPR treatments. However, treatments did not result in increased yield, which was highly variable. Application of the PGPR strains did not adversely affect populations of beneficial indigenous rhizosphere bacteria including fluorescent pseudomonads and siderophore-producing bacterial strains. Treatment with PGPR increased populations of fungi in the rhizosphere but did not result in increased root disease incidence. This fungal response to the PGPR product was likely due to an increase in nonpathogenic chitinolytic fungal strains resulting from the application of chitosan, which is a component of the PGPR formulation applied to the potting media.