Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Consortia Associated with Phospho-Compost on Phosphorus Solubilization and Growth of Tomato Seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

ABSTRACT

The exploitation of phosphate mines generates an important quantity of phosphate sludge that remains accumulated and not valorized. In this context, composting with organic matter and rhizospheric microorganisms offers an interesting alternative and that is more sustainable for agriculture. This work aims to investigate the synergetic effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and phospho-compost (PC), produced from phosphate-laundered sludge and organic wastes, and their combination on plant growth, phosphorus solubilization and phosphatase activities (alkaline and acid). Inoculated mycorrhizae and bacteria strains used in this study were selected from plant rhizosphere grown on phosphate-laundered sludge. Significant (p < .05) increases in plant growth was observed when inoculated with both consortia and PC (PC+ PSB+ AMF) similar to those recorded in plants amended with chemical fertilizer. Tripartite inoculated tomato had a significantly (p < .05) higher shoot height; shoot and root dry weight, root colonization and available P content, than the control. Co-inoculation with PC and AMF greatly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and the rate of mycorrhizal intensity. We conclude that PC and endophytic AMF and PSB consortia contribute to a tripartite inoculation in tomato seedlings and are coordinately involved in plant growth and phosphorus solubilization. These results open up promising prospects for using formulate phospho-compost enriched with phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) in crop cultivation as biofertilizers to solve problems of phosphate-laundered sludge accumulation.     

Inoculation of Earthworms and Plant Growth–Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) for the Improvement of Vegetable Growth via Enhanced N and P Availability in Soils

A pot trial was conducted to investigate the single, dual, and triple inoculation of earthworms or plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) (Azotobacter chroococcum HKN-5) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (Bacillus megaterium HKP-1), on the growth of Brassica parachinenesis and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability in soils. All of the five inoculation treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the shoot growth of B. parachinenesis. The greatest shoot and root biomass were recorded in the triple inoculation of earthworm, NFB, and PSB. All of the five inoculation treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the concentrations of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)-N, NO_x-N, and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)–extractable P in soils. Based on plant growth and availability of N and P in soils, the present study suggested that the triple inoculation may be a promising approach for reducing the need for chemical fertilizers in growing vegetables.     

Root Exudation of Organic Acids of Herbaceous Pioneer Plants and Their Growth in Sterile and Non-Sterile Nutrient-Poor, Sandy Soils from Post-Mining Sites

Nutrient-poor, sandy soils form the prevailing substrate at post-mining sites of the Lusatian region(Brandenburg, Germany) and present a challenge for vegetation development. We studied the organic acid quantity and composition of three commonly occurring pioneer plant species, the legumes Lotus corniculatus L. and Trifolium arvense L. and the grass Calamagrostis epigeios(L.) Roth, to determine if plant growth and exudation differed with(non-sterilized soil) and without(sterilized soil) an indigenous soil microbial community. We investigated whether organic acids were found in the rhizosphere and surrounding soil and whether this influenced nutrient mobilization. This study consists of linked field investigations and a greenhouse experiment. Plants were grown in the greenhouse in either sterilized or non-sterilized sandy soil from a reclamation site in the Lusatian mining landscape(Welzow Su¨d, East Germany). After seven months, the plant biomass, root morphology, organic acids, and water-soluble nutrients and root colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) and dark septate endophytes(DSE) were analyzed. Roots of all three plants in the field and greenhouse experiments were highly colonized with AMF. Calamagrostis epigeios and T. arvense had a significantly higher colonization frequency with DSE than L. corniculatus. The quantity and composition of organic acids strongly differed among plant species, with the highest number of organic acids found for L. corniculatus and lowest for C. epigeios. The quantity of organic acids was greatly reduced in all plants under sterilized soil conditions. However, the composition of organic acids and plant growth in sterilized soil were reduced for both legumes, but not for C. epigeios, which had a higher biomass under sterilized conditions. Changes in nutrient concentrations in the field rhizosphere soil relative to those in the control were measurable after seven months. While the spectrum of organic acids and the growth of legumes seemed to be dependent on a highly diverse soil microbial community and a symbiotic partner, the grass C. epigeios appeared capable of mobilizing enough nutrients without an indigenous microbial community, and might be more competitive on sites where soil microbial diversity and activity are low.     

Effects of microplastic polystyrene, simulated acid rain and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Trifolium repens growth and soil microbial community composition

Microplastic pollution is a global and ubiquitous environmental problem in the oceans as well as in the terrestrial environment. We examined the fate of microplastic polystyrene (MPS) beads in experimental soil in the presence and absence of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and simulated acid rain (SAR) to determine whether the combinations of these three factors altered the growth of white clover Trifolium repens. We found that MPS, SAR, or AMF added singly to soil did not alter T. repens growth or yields. In contrast, MPS and AMF together significantly reduced shoot biomass, while SAR and MPS together significantly reduced soil available phosphorus independent of AMF presence. Microplastic polystyrene, AMF, and SAR together significantly reduced soil NO^-₃-N. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi added singly also enriched the beneficial soil bacteria (genus Solirubrobacter), while MPS combined with AMF significantly enriched the potential plant pathogenic fungus Spiromastix. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation with MPS increased the abundance of soil hydrocarbon degraders independent of the presence of SAR. In addition, the abundance of soil nitrate reducers was increased by MPS, especially in the presence of AMF and SAR. Moreover, SAR alone increased the abundance of soil pathogens within the fungal community including antibiotic producers. These findings indicate that the coexistence of MPS, SAR, and AMF may exacerbate the adverse effects of MPS on soil and plant health.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizae and phosphate solubilising bacteria of the rhizosphere of the mangrove ecosystem of Great Nicobar island, India

Mangroves form an important ecosystem of Great Nicobar, a continental island in the Bay of Bengal with luxuriant tropical rainforests. The rhizosphere of the mangrove plants of Great Nicobar was investigated for the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB). The soils of the Great Nicobar mangroves were silt–clays and were poor in phosphate content. Five species of AMF belonging to the genus Glomus were isolated. The %AMF colonization in the mangrove plants was between 0 and 17%, and the presence of AMF in the aerenchymatous cortex suggests that the mangrove plants may be aiding in AMF survival by providing oxygen. Two strains of phosphate solubilising Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found in the mangrove soils of Great Nicobar. Phosphate solubilisation by the two isolated strains was almost 70% under in vitro conditions. PSB may play a role in the mangrove ecosystems of Great Nicobar by mobilising insoluble phosphate. The plant roots could pick up the released phosphate directly or with the aid of AMF hyphae.     

Additive and interactive effects of functionally dissimilar soil organisms on a grassland plant community

The productivity and diversity of plant communities are affected by soil organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), root herbivores and decomposers. However, it is unknown how interactions between such functionally dissimilar soil organisms affect plant communities and whether the combined effects are additive or interactive. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated the individual and combined effects of AMF (five Glomus species), root herbivores (wireworms and nematodes) and decomposers (collembolans and enchytraeids) on the productivity and nutrient content of a model grassland plant community as well as on soil microbial biomass and community structure. The effects of the soil organisms on productivity (total plant biomass), total root biomass, grass and forb biomass, and nutrient uptake of the plant community were additive. AMF decreased, decomposers increased and root herbivores had no effect on productivity, but in combination the additive effects canceled each other out. AMF reduced total root biomass by 18%, but decomposers increased it by 25%, leading to no net effect on total root biomass in the combined treatments. Total shoot biomass was reduced by 14% by root herbivores and affected by an interaction between AMF and decomposers where decomposers had a positive impact on shoot growth only in presence of AMF. AMF increased the shoot biomass of forbs, but reduced the shoot biomass of grasses, while root herbivores only reduced the shoot biomass of grasses. Interactive effects of the soil organisms were detected on the shoot biomasses of Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, and Agrostis capillaris. The C/N ratio of the plant community was affected by AMF.In soil, AMF promoted abundances of bacterial, actinomycete, saprophytic and AMF fatty acid markers. Decomposers alone decreased bacterial and actinomycete fatty acids abundances but when decomposers were interacting with herbivores those abundances were increased. Our results suggests that at higher resolutions, i.e. on the levels of individual plant species and the microbial community, interactive effects are common but do not affect the overall productivity and nutrient uptake of a grassland plant community, which is mainly affected by additive effects of functionally dissimilar soil organisms.     

低磷土壤接种菌根真菌和解磷细菌对大田玉米生长和磷吸收的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)能与多数陆生植物共生,促进植物吸收养分尤其是磷。解磷细菌(Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria,PSB)可以活化土壤中难溶性无机磷和有机磷。本研究采用苯菌灵对田间低磷土壤中土著AM真菌进行灭菌,并接种外源AM真菌(Glomusversiforme,G.v)和PSB(Pseudomonassp.),研究AM真菌和PSB接种对不同生育期玉米生长、磷养分吸收和产量的影响。结果表明,施用苯菌灵能够有效地抑制土著AM真菌对玉米根系的侵染,未施用苯菌灵处理中土著AM真菌促进了玉米前期和收获期的生长,提高了玉米吸磷量;接种Pseudomonas sp.促进了玉米六叶期根系的生长;接种外源AM真菌G.v促进了玉米六叶期和收获期地上部的生长,但降低了玉米产量。双接种Pseudomonas sp.和G.v对玉米生长、吸磷量和产量未表现出显著的协同效应。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and rhizobacteria affect the physiology and performance of Sulla coronaria plants subjected to salt stress by mitigation of ionic imbalance

Salt stress has become a major menace to plant growth and productivity. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Rhizophagus intraradices) in combination or not with plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Pseudomonas sp. (Ps) and Bacillus subtilis) on the establishment and growth of Sulla coronaria plants under saline conditions. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and S. coronaria seedlings were stressed with NaCl (100 mM) for 4 weeks. Plant biomass, mineral nutrition of shoots and activities of rhizosphere soil enzymes were assessed. Salt stress significantly reduced plant growth while increasing sodium accumulation and electrolyte leakage from leaves. However, inoculation with AMF, whether alone or combined with the PGPR Pseudomonas sp. alleviated the salt‐induced reduction of dry weight. Inoculation with only AMF increased shoot nutrient concentrations resulting in higher K⁺: Na⁺, Ca²⁺: Na⁺, and Ca²⁺: Mg²⁺ ratios compared to the non‐inoculated plants under saline conditions. The co‐inoculation with AMF and Pseudomonas sp. under saline conditions lowered shoot sodium accumulation, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to non‐inoculated plants and plants inoculated only with AMF. The findings strongly suggest that inoculation with AMF alone or co‐inoculation with AMF and Pseudomonas sp. can alleviate salt stress of plants likely through mitigation of NaCl‐induced ionic imbalance, thereby improving the nutrient profile.     

Plant growth-promoting bacteria in the rhizo- and endosphere of plants: Their role, colonization, mechanisms involved and prospects for utilization

In both managed and natural ecosystems, beneficial plant-associated bacteria play a key role in supporting and/or increasing plant health and growth. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can be applied in agricultural production or for the phytoremediation of pollutants. However, because of their capacity to confer plant beneficial effects, efficient colonization of the plant environment is of utmost importance. The majority of plant-associated bacteria derives from the soil environment. They may migrate to the rhizosphere and subsequently the rhizoplane of their hosts before they are able to show beneficial effects. Some rhizoplane colonizing bacteria can also penetrate plant roots, and some strains may move to aerial plant parts, with a decreasing bacterial density in comparison to rhizosphere or root colonizing populations. A better understanding on colonization processes has been obtained mostly by microscopic visualisation as well as by analysing the characteristics of mutants carrying disfunctional genes potentially involved in colonization. In this review we describe the individual steps of plant colonization and survey the known mechanisms responsible for rhizosphere and endophytic competence. The understanding of colonization processes is important to better predict how bacteria interact with plants and whether they are likely to establish themselves in the plant environment after field application as biofertilisers or biocontrol agents.     

丛枝菌根真菌对金叶六道木镉吸收及根际真菌群落结构的影响

为明确丛枝菌根(AM)真菌对促进绿化苗木镉(Cd)吸收的影响,通过盆栽试验比较接种不同AM真菌对12种绿化苗木Cd吸收的差异,并进一步分析接种对金叶六道木根际微生物数量和AM真菌群落结构的影响.结果表明,12种绿化苗木,加Cd处理6个月后,其叶片浓度的变化范围为0.25～2.59 mg·kg–1.接种AM真菌处理组的叶...     

Optimization of plant growth-promoting bacteria-assisted phytostabilization of mine tailings

Recent studies have indicated that plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can improve revegetation of arid mine tailings as measured by increased biomass production. The goals of the present study were first to evaluate how mode of application of known PGPB affects plant growth, and second to evaluate the effect of this inoculation on rhizosphere microbial community structure. PGPB application strategies investigated include preliminary surface sterilization of seeds (a common practice in phytoremediation trials) followed by a comparison of two application methods; immersion and alginate encapsulation. Results with two native desert plant species, Atriplex lentiformis and Buchloe dactyloides, suggest that seed surface sterilization prior to inoculation is not necessary to achieve beneficial effects of introduced PGPB. Both PGPB application techniques generally enhanced plant growth although results were both plant and PGPB specific. These results demonstrate that alginate encapsulation, which allows for long-term storage and easier application to seeds, is an effective way to inoculate PGPB. In addition, the influence of PGPB application on B. dactyloides rhizosphere community structure was evaluated using PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) analysis of bacterial DNA extracted from rhizosphere samples collected 75 d following planting. A comparative analysis of DGGE profiles was performed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). DGGE-CCA showed that rhizosphere community profiles from PGPB-inoculated treatments are significantly different from both uninoculated tailings rhizosphere profiles and profiles from the compost used to amend the tailings. Further, community profiles from B. dactyloides inoculated with the best performing PGPB (Arthro Mix) were significantly different from two other PGPB tested. These results suggest that introduced PGPB have the potential to influence the development of the rhizosphere community structure found in plants grown in mine tailings.     

Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil amendments to remediation of a heavy metal-contaminated soil using sweet sorghum

Owing to their potential advantages such as waste reduction,recycling,and economic attributes,fast-growing bioenergy crops have the capacity to e?ectively phytoremediate heavy metal-contaminated soils.However,little is known about the role of microbial and chemical amendments in phytoremediation using bioenergy crops.Here,we studied the contributions of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Acaulospora mellea ZZ and three soil amendments,i.e.,hydroxyapatite (HAP),manure,and bi...     

Enhancement of maize plant growth with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and biochar amendment in soil

Maize plant has an absolute requirement of nutrients (N, P, and K) for growth and development. The microbial application can facilitate in addressing limited access to chemical fertilizer concern. Moreover, biochar and phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial (PSB) community can contribute together in nutrient availability. Both have the P-supply potential to the soil, but their interaction has been tested less under semiarid climatic conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential of biochemically tested promising PSB strains and biochar for maize plant growth and nutritional status in plant and soil. Therefore, two isolated PSB strains from maize rhizosphere were biochemically tested in vitro and identified by 16S rDNA gene analysis. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse where the plant growth and nutrient availability to the plants were observed. In this regard, all the treatments such as PSB strain-inoculated plants, biochar-treated plants, and a combination of PSBs + biochar-treated plants were destructively sampled on day 45 (D₄₅) and day 65 (D₆₅) of sowing with four replications at each time. PSB inoculation, biochar incorporation, and their combinations have positive effects on maize plant height and nutrient concentration on D₄₅ and D₆₅. In particular, plants treated with sawdust biochar + Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation increased N (32.8%), P (72.5%), and K (42.1%) against control on D₆₅. Besides that, only L. fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation enhanced N (23.1%) and P (61.5%) than control which shows the significant interaction of PSB and biochar in nutrient uptake. PSB and biochar have the potential to be used as a promising amendment in improving plant growth and nutrient absorption besides the conventional approaches.     

Influence of a plant growth-promoting pseudomonad and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil growth and nodulation

Summary In a growth chamber study we examined the influence of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, Pseudomonas putida R-20, and an acid-tolerant vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus, Glomus intraradices 25, on Medicago sativa L. and Lotus corniculatus L. growth and nodule development. Seedlings were planted in an acidic (pH 5.5), P-deficient soil containing re-established native microflora (minus VAM) and appropriate rhizobia, and inoculated with the rhizobacterium, the VAM fungus, or both. The plants were assayed at three intervals for up to 10–11 weeks. The growth-promoting rhizobacteria alone increased alfalfa shoot mass by 23% compared to all other treatments, but only at 8 weeks of growth, apparently by promoting nodulation and N₂ fixation (acetylene reduction activity). The presence of VAM, either alone or in combination with the rhizobacteria, generally decreased root length but only at 8 weeks also. As a group, the inoculation treatments increased all nodular measurements by 10 weeks of growth. Few treatment effects were found at 7 and 9 weeks for birdsfoot trefoil; neither plant nor nodular measurements differed among treatments. By 11 weeks, shoot mass was increased by the rhizobacteria alone by 36% compared to the control. As a group, the inoculation treatments all showed increased nodular responses by this time. The rhizobacteria stimulated mycorrhizal development on both plant species, but only at the initial samplings. No synergistic effects between the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium and VAM inoculation were found. Although these results lend credence to the concept of managing microorganisms in the rhizosphere to improve plant growth, they emphasize the necessity for a more thorough understanding of microbial interactions as plants mature.     

Response of a wild-type and modern cowpea cultivars to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in sterilized and non-sterilized soil

Cowpea is an important crop that serves as a legume and vegetable source to many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Soil fertility is a significant limitation to its production thus; inoculation with beneficial soil biota such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could improve its performance. However, plant–AMF interaction could vary based on crop cultivar hence affecting overall crop production. The present study aimed at determining the effect of AMF inoculation and soil sterilization on root colonization and growth of a wild-type and three modern cowpea cultivars grown by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Potted cowpea plants were inoculated with a commercial AMF inoculum comprising of Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus aggregatum and Glomus etunicatum and maintained in a greenhouse for 40 days. After harvesting, mycorrhizal colonization, nodule number and dry weight, root and shoot dry weights, nitrogen (N,) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content were determined. Interestingly, the modern cultivars showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher root colonization, nodulation, shoot P and N compared to the wild-type cultivar. Moreover, a strong positive correlation between AMF root colonization and shoot P (r² = 0.73, 0.90, p < 0.001), AMF root colonization and shoot N (r² = 0.78; 0.89, p < 0.001) was observed in both sterilized and non-sterilized soil, respectively. Soil sterilization affected root colonization and growth parameters with plants grown in non-sterilized soil performing better than those grown in sterilized soil. This study provides major evidence that modern cowpea cultivars are still responsive to mycorrhizal inoculation suggesting that modern breeding programs are not deleterious AMF symbiosis.     

Defoliation effects on Plantago lanceolata resource allocation and soil decomposers in relation to AM symbiosis and fertilization

Plants can mediate interactions between aboveground herbivores and belowground decomposers as both groups depend on plant-provided organic carbon. Most vascular plants also form symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which compete for plant carbon too. Our aim was to reveal how defoliation (trimming of plant leaves twice to 6 cm above the soil surface) and mycorrhizal infection (inoculation of the fungus Glomus claroideum BEG31), in nutrient poor and fertilized conditions, affect plant growth and resource allocation. We also tested how these effects can influence the abundance of microbial-feeding animals and nitrogen availability in the soil. We established a 12-wk microcosm study of Plantago lanceolata plants growing in autoclaved soil, into which we constructed a simplified microfood-web including saprotrophic bacteria and fungi and their nematode feeders. We found that fertilization, defoliation and inoculation of the mycorrhizal fungus all decreased P. lanceolata root growth and that fertilization increased leaf production. Plant inflorescence growth was decreased by defoliation and increased by fertilization and AMF inoculation. These results suggest a negative influence of the treatments on P. lanceolata belowground biomass allocation. Of the soil organisms, AMF root colonization decreased with fertilization and increased with defoliation. Fertilization decreased numbers of bacterial-feeding nematodes, probably because fertilized plants produced less root mass. On the other hand, bacterial feeders were more abundant when associated with defoliated than non-defoliated plants despite defoliated plants having less root mass. The AMF inoculation per se increased the abundance of fungal feeders, but the reduced and increased root AM colonization rates of fertilized and defoliated plants, respectively, were not reflected in the numbers of fungal feeders. We found no evidence of plant-mediated effects of the AM fungus on bacterial feeders, and against our prediction, soil inorganic nitrogen concentrations were not positively associated with the concomitant abundances of microbial-feeding animals. Altogether, our results suggest that (1) while defoliation, fertilization and AMF inoculation all affect plant resource allocation, (2) they do not greatly interact with each other. Moreover, it appears that (3) while changes in plant resource allocation due to fertilization and defoliation can influence numbers of bacterial feeders in the soil, (4) these effects may not significantly alter mineral N concentrations in the soil.     

植物促生菌接种对中国芥蓝根际固有微生物群落结构的影响

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been widely recognized as an important agent,especially as a biofertilizer,in agricultural systems.The objectives of this study were to select efective PGPR for Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var.alboglabra) cultivation and to investigate the efect of their inoculation on indigenous microbial community structure.The Bacillus sp.SUT1 and Pseudomonas sp.SUT19 were selected for determining the efficiency in promoting Chinese kale growth in both pot and field experiments.In the field experiment,PGPR amended with compost gave the highest yields among all treatments.The Chinese kale growth promotion may be directly afected by PGPR inoculation.The changes of microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of Chinese kale following PGPR inoculation were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and principal coordinate analysis.The DGGE fingerprints of 16S rDNA amplified from total community DNA in the rhizosphere confirmed that our isolates were established in the rhizosphere throughout this study.The microbial community structures were slightly diferent among all the treatments,and the major changes depended on stages of plant growth.DNA sequencing of excised DGGE bands showed that the dominant species in microbial community structure in the rhizosphere were not mainly interfered by PGPR,but strongly influenced by plant development.The microbial diversity as revealed by diversity indices was not diferent between the PGPR-inoculated and uninoculated treatments.In addition,the rhizosphere soil had more influence on eubacterial diversity,whereas it did not afect archaebacterial and fungal diversities.     

Effect of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae on tomato growth and soil microbial activity

The interaction of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on plant growth, soil microbial activities, and the production of organic acids was studied in non-sterile soil containing hydroxyapatite and glucose. Glomus etunicatum (VAM), a fungus, and Enterobacter agglomerans, a bacterium able to solubilize insoluble phosphate, were used as inocula. Three treatments and a control were used: inoculation with E. agglomerans (treatment E), inoculation with G. etunicatum (treatment G), inoculation with E. agglomerans+G. etunicatum (treatment E+G) and the control (C). Inoculation with E, G, or E+G had increased plant growth by days 35, 55, and 75 compared with the control. Microbial biomass carbon (C) and alkaline phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere generally increased with time. Alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in treatments G and E+G compared with the control at 35 and 55 days. The highest acid phosphatase activity was observed in treatment E at 35 days; however, this markedly decreased with time. A significantly higher soluble phosphorus (P) concentration was observed in treatments E and E+G on day 55 compared with C. However, there was no significant difference in soluble P concentration in the rhizosphere between treatments with time. The P concentration was greatest in all treatments on day 55. The highest oxalic acid concentration was observed in the rhizosphere of the non-sterile soil in E+G on day 35. Total N and P uptake in plants from treatments E and G were higher compared with the control. However, the highest N and P uptake was observed in treatment E+G. This study suggests a synergistic interaction between E. agglomerans and G. etunicatum. Received: 3 January 1997     

Effects of earthworms and plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on availability of nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium in soil

Both earthworms and plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are ubiquitous and important for promoting circulation of plant macronutrients. Two series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of earthworm casts and activities on the growth of PGPR, and the inoculation of earthworms and PGPR on the availability of N, P, and K in soils, respectively. During a short incubation period (0–34 h), the extracts of earthworm (Pheretima guillelmi)‐worked soil significantly (p < 0.05) increased the abundance of the three species of PGPR, including N‐fixing bacteria (NFB) (Azotobacter chroococcum HKN‐5), phosphate‐solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (Bacillus megaterium HKP‐1), and K‐solubilizing bacteria (KSB) (B. mucilaginous HKK‐1), in Luria‐Bertani (LB) broth. There were synergistic effects of dual inoculation of earthworms and PGPR on increasing the concentrations of NH$ _4^+ $ ‐N, (NO$ _3^- $ + NO$ _2^- $ )‐N, NaHCO₃‐extractable P, and NH₄OAc‐extractable K in the corresponding soils. Bioavailable N (the sum of NH$ _4^+ $ ‐N and [NO$ _3^- $ + NO$ _2^- $ ]‐N) in the dual inoculation was 4 to 24 times those inoculated with earthworms or NFB alone, respectively. The significantly higher concentrations of bioavailable N and P in the dual inoculation of earthworms and NFB or PSB may be due to the higher abundance of PGPR and/or higher activities of urease and acid phosphatase than those of single inoculation of NFB or PSB, respectively. Dual inoculation of earthworms and PGPR would be most effective in reducing the need for chemical fertilizers in agriculture.     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate-solubilizing fungus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mortierella</Emphasis> sp.) and their effects on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kostelelzkya virginica</Emphasis> growth and enzyme activities of rhizosphere and bulk soils at different salinities

This study investigated the interactions between two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus aggregatum and Glomus mosseae) and a P-solubilizing fungus (Mortierella sp.), with respect to their effects on growth of Kostelelzkya virginica and urease, invertase, neutral phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase activities of rhizosphere and bulk soils at different salinity levels (i.e., 0, 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl). Percentage of AMF colonization, Mortierella sp. populations, pH, electrical conductivity, and available P concentration in soil were also determined. Combined inoculation of AMF and Mortierella sp. increased the percentage of AMF colonization and Mortierella sp. populations under salt stress (i.e., 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl). The dual inoculation of Mortierella sp. with AMF (G. aggregatum or G. mosseae) had significant effects on shoot and root dry weights and available P concentrations, pH values, and electrical conductivities of rhizosphere and bulk soils under salt stress. The inoculation of Mortierella sp. significantly enhanced the positive effects of AMF on some enzyme activities (i.e., neutral phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase in bulk soil; neutral phosphatase and urease in rhizosphere soil); on the contrary, it produced negative effects on urease activities in bulk soil and invertase activities in bulk and rhizosphere soils. The results indicated that the most effective co-inoculation was the dual inoculation with Mortierella sp. and G. mosseae, which may help in alleviating the deleterious effects of salt on plants growth and soil enzyme activities.