Elemental composition of birdsfoot trefoil

Abstract

Developmental and environmental effects on mineral nutrient concentration in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) are not well documented. In this study, elemental composition of two birdsfoot trefoil stands were determined from a late vegetative stage through reproductive growth. ‘Norcen’ birdsfoot trefoil was established on a Glyndon silt loam (coarsesilty, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls) in Roseau County, Minnesota (49°N), in 1980, and Norcen and ‘Leo’ birdsfoot trefoil were seeded on a Waukegan silt loam (fine‐silty over sandy or sandy‐skeletal, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludolls) near Rosemount, Minnesota (45°N), in 1981. Shoot and root samples were taken at approximately biweekly intervals in the year following establishment. Shoots were separated into stems, leaves, umbels, and seed.

Environment influenced the concentration of most elements. This environmental effect was generally consistent among plant parts for Ca, Mg, S, Na, and Mn; i.e., all parts had a lower elemental concentrations at Rosemount than at Roseau. The relationship between environments for P, K, Zn, and Cu concentrations varied with different plant parts; i.e., some”; plant components had element concentrations higher at the southern than northern location, whereas other components had element concentrations that showed the converse. Although most elements were less concentrated with advancing developmental stage, environment modified the rate and extent of change in concentration of every element in at least one plant part. Interactions of environment with developmental stage were not as evident for shoots as for the separate shoot components. Whereas other reports have often emphasized the large differences in nutrient concentrations among legume species, our data suggest that nutrient concentration may be as strongly influenced by environment as by species.     

Greenhouse evaluation of growth parameters related to birdsfoot trefoil and red and white clover production on an and IC mission silt loam

Abstract

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus tenius), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) were evaluated as potential forage legumes on andic soils. A greenhouse study was used to evaluate the influence of soil pH on: (1) the establishment and growth of these forage legumes, (2) N and P quantity and concentration, and (3) Rhizobium lupini and Rhizobium trifolii survival.

Aluminum sulfate and finely‐ground calcium carbonate were used to adjust soil pH. Soil pH's were 4.8, 5.1, 5.6, 6.2, 6.4, 6.9, 7.0 and 7.4. Birdsfoot trefoil, red clover and white clover were grown in 15 cm pots in the greenhouse and harvested five times at approximately 20‐day intervals. Yield was measured and plant material was analyzed for total N and P. Populations of R. lupini and R. trifolii were monitored using the MPN technique.

Manipulation of pH in the Mission soil was found to have a significant effect on the growth of the three forage legumes, tissue N and P concentration and uptake, and on the survival of R. lupini and R. trifolii in the soil. In general, tested parameters increased with increasing soil pH. Greatest forage yield occurred in the 6.9–7.0 pH range. The andic nature of the Mission soil requires a pH adjustment above pH 6.2 for acceptable establishment and yields of the three forage legumes studied. This is in sharp contrast to non‐andic northern Idaho soils where forage legume yields are usually not adversely affectea above pH 5.5. All three legumes appeared to have good potential ana should be evaluated under field conditions.     

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.     

Field response of legumes to inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Carrier-based (soil/FYM, 1:1) plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates (Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella planticola and Proteus vulgaris) were tested individually and in combination with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae under field conditions on soybean and lentil crops, respectively, under field conditions. Inoculation of soybean (Glycine max) cv. Pusa 22 with B. subtilis produced maximum nodule number, mass and nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction activity, ARA) followed by B. japonicum (SB 271). Maximum soybean yield was registered with the coinoculation of B. japonicum and B. subtilis over an uninoculated control. Maximum nodulation in the lentil (Lens culinaris) cv. L 4147 was obtained with a combination of R. leguminosarum (L-12-87) and P. vulgaris inoculation followed by a single inoculation with Rhizobium and B. subtilis. None of the PGPR isolates either singly or in coinoculation with R. leguminosarum could significantly influence the yield of the lentil crop.     

Forest soil community responses to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and spruce seedlings

The influence of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and spruce seedlings on the composition and activity of forest soil microbial communities was studied in a microcosm experiment in which sterile, sand-filled 25mm×150mm glass tubes were treated with a forest soil suspension containing Bacillus or Pseudomonas PGPR and 2-week-old spruce seedlings. Eighteen weeks after treatments were established, bacterial, actinomycete and fungal population sizes were determined by dilution plating, as were seedling dry weights and soil carbon substrate utilization profiles using Biolog plates. PGPR inoculation had little influence on the population sizes of actinomycetes or fungi. However, significant effects were detected on the total bacterial population size, primarily in microcosms without seedlings. Euclidean distances between treatments plotted on two dimensions by multidimensional scaling showed that the introduction of PGPR strains changed the type of microbial community, particularly when inoculated into soil without seedlings. Significant changes were also detected in one soil type in the presence of seedlings. Our results suggest that the type of soil community and the presence of seedlings are significant factors influencing the responses of soil communities to bacterial inoculation, and that for some soil communities, the presence of seedlings may mitigate perturbations caused by the introduction of PGPR. Received: 24 February 1997     

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: strategies to improve abiotic stresses under sustainable agriculture

The abiotic stresses like drought, heavy metal and salts directly or indirectly influence the global environmental pollution and decrease the agricultural productivity. The stress tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role against the abiotic stresses in terms of enhancing the efficacy of soil, plant growth promotion (PGP). Stress tolerance PGPRs have certain specific PGP properties such as hormones synthesis, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, Abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis, enzymes production, nitrogen fixation, phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) solubilization, as results which protect various crops during such stress conditions and consequently enhance crop sustainability. Efficient PGPRs isolated from various stress conditions have certainly, more useful against that particular stress. This article highlighted the isolation of various stresses tolerant PGPRs from varieties of crops under different stress conditions and their effect on varieties of crops to enhance their plant growth promotion.     

不同植物促生细菌对大蒜生长影响的研究

研究了从云南蔬菜、水稻、魔芋等作物根际土壤中分离到的7株植物促生细菌(S1、S2、S3、S4、S5、S6和S7)对大蒜的促生作用。试验结果表明,7株菌对大蒜生长和产量的影响均高于对照,以S3菌株为最好,可使大蒜株高、根长、蒜头直径和茎粗分别增加20.93%、38.16%、22.17%、40.48%;蒜头、蒜苗鲜重分别比对照增加56.98%、62.27%,蒜头、蒜苗干重分别比对照增加80.15%,62.07%。其次为菌株S1、S4,大蒜生长和产量指标均显著高于对照。S2、S5、S6、S7对大蒜生长和产量影响也有一定的促进作用。     

披碱草根际促生菌筛选及其接种剂的促生作用

【目的】体外促生能力是衡量微生物菌株作用的一个重要指标,测定获取的植物根际促生菌并明确其对披碱草的促生效果,可为其在生产中的应用提供依据。【方法】2014年9月从西藏阿里地区采集披碱草根系及根际土壤,以常规方法分离出其中的溶磷菌、 固氮菌和分泌3-吲哚乙酸(IAA)细菌的10株菌株。测定其溶磷量、 固氮酶活性及分泌生长素能力,并将其制成植物根际接种剂,测定接种剂对披碱草生长的影响及其在根际的定殖能力。【结果】菌株PWXZ10溶磷能力较好,达40.89 mg/L; 菌株003PWXZ6固氮酶活性较强,达421.21 nmol/(mL·h); 菌株NXP17分泌生长素能力较强,达31.33 μg/mL。与对照菌株(Pseudomonas sp. Jm92)相比,菌株003PWXZ6和NXP17制备的接种剂可显著增加披碱草株高、 地上生物量和地下生物量(P0.05),但两者之间差异不显著(P0.05); 接种剂003PWXZ6对披碱草根总长、 根表面积、 根体积、 根直径、 含磷量、 含氮量和粗蛋白含量增加显著(P0.05),分别较对照菌株(Pseudomonas sp. Jm92)增加了330%、 199%、 118%、 187%、 70%、 15%和19%,并且该菌株在根际定殖能力很强。 【结论】植物根际促生菌003PWXZ6和NXP17对披碱草具有良好促生效果,可为开发经济环保的生物肥料提供了菌种资源。     

Improvement of Brassica napus growth under cadmium stress by cadmium-resistant rhizobacteria

This study focuses on the characterization of four bacterial isolates from heavy metal-polluted rhizosphere in order to examine their plant growth promoting (PGP) activity. The PGP activity on the canola (Brassica napus) of the strains which showed cadmium resistance and multiple PGP traits was assessed in the presence and in the absence of Cd²⁺. The strains, Pseudomonas tolaasii ACC23, Pseudomonas fluorescens ACC9, Alcaligenes sp. ZN4 and Mycobacterium sp. ACC14 showed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD) activity. They also synthesized ACCD enzyme in vitro when 0.4 mM Cd²⁺ was added to the growth medium. The presence of the metal, however, reduced the ACCD activity in Alcaligenes sp. ZN4 and Mycobacterium sp. ACC14, while it did not affect the ACCD activity of P. tolaasii ACC23 and P. fluorescens ACC9. ACC9 and ACC23 produced indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores, while ACC14 produced only IAA. IAA and siderophores were produced more actively under Cd-stress.Root elongation assays conducted on B. napus under gnotobiotic conditions demonstrated increases (from 34% up to 97%) in root elongation of inoculated canola seedlings compared to the control plants. Subsequently, the effect of inoculation with these strains on growth and uptake of Cd²⁺ in roots and shoots of canola was studied in pot experiments using Cd-free and Cd-treated (15 μg Cd²⁺ g^?1 dw) soil. Inoculation with P. tolaasii ACC23, P. fluorescens ACC9 and Mycobacterium sp. ACC14 promoted the growth of plants at concentrations of 0 and 15 μg Cd²⁺ g^?1 soil. The maximum growth was observed in the plants inoculated with P. tolaasii ACC23. The strains did not influence the specific accumulation of cadmium in the root and shoot systems, but all increased the plant biomass and consequently the total cadmium accumulation.The present observations showed that the bacterial strains used in this study protect the plants against the inhibitory effects of cadmium, probably due to the production of IAA, siderophores and ACCD activity.     

苹果树根际促生细菌种群分析

利用选择性培养基, 对多年生苹果树根际与连作幼树根际促生细菌进行了分离和测数, 并采用BOX-PCR技术进行聚类分析。结果表明: 多年生苹果树根际细菌总量及固氮细菌、解磷细菌、硅酸盐细菌、拮抗细菌4类根际促生细菌的数量均高于连作幼树根际。在多年生苹果树根际, 硅酸盐细菌的数量最大, 解磷细菌和固氮细菌的数量次之, 拮抗细菌的数量最小; 在连作幼树根际, 解磷细菌的数量最大, 硅酸盐细菌和固氮细菌的数量次之, 拮抗细菌的数量最小。从两种土壤中获得的促生细菌分离株的BOX-PCR图谱最大的相异百分数都在1.25以上, 说明这些细菌分离株的遗传进化距离比较接近。在细菌BOX-PCR图谱相异百分数为0.25的水平上, 多年生苹果树根际促生细菌分为79个聚类群, 其中固氮细菌18个聚类群, 解磷细菌29个聚类群, 硅酸盐细菌19个聚类群, 拮抗细菌18个聚类群; 连作幼树根际促生细菌分为46个聚类群, 其中固氮细菌15个聚类群, 解磷细菌19个聚类群, 硅酸盐细菌8个聚类群, 拮抗细菌9个聚类群。多年生苹果树4类根际促生细菌的多样性、丰富度和均匀度指数均高于连作幼树根际, 而优势度指数低于连作幼树根际。与连作幼树相比, 多年生苹果树根际促生细菌具有丰富的种属多样性。     

Yield response of wheat and barley to inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria at various levels of nitrogen fertilization

The yield response of a wheat (Kirik) and a barley (Tokak 157/37) cultivar to inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Sp246 and Bacillus sp. OSU‐142 was studied in relation to three levels of N fertilization (0, 40, and 80 kg ha^–1) under field conditions in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1999 and 2000. Seed inoculation with A. brasilense Sp246 significantly affected yield and yield components, both in wheat and barley. On average of years and N doses, inoculation with A. brasilense Sp246 increased spike number per m², grain number per spike, grain yield, and crude protein content by 7.2, 5.9, 14.7, and 4.1 % in wheat and by 6.6, 8.1, 17.5, and 5.1 % in barley, respectively, as compared to control. Inoculation with Bacillus sp. OSU‐142 significantly increased kernel number per spike in wheat, but no significant effect was determined in the other characteristics. Grain yields and yield components were also higher at all levels of nitrogen fertilizer in the inoculated plots as compared to the control. However, these increases diminished at high fertilizer levels. These results suggest that application of the growth promoting bacteria A. brasilense Sp246 may have the potential to be used as a biofertilizer for spring wheat and barley cultivation in organic and low‐N input agriculture.     

Identification and characterization of rhizobacteria isolated by enrichment culture on spinach roots

Rhizobacteria can be used for biological control and environmental restoration. In this study, we performed enrichment culture of rhizobacteria, identified isolates, and investigated the physiological properties of the bacterial isolates. Five bacteria differing in their colony morphology were isolated from spinach roots as enriched rhizobacteria. Four isolates were identified by sequencing of 16S rDNA as β and γ-Proteobacteria; 16S rDNA sequencing was not completed on one isolate. Based on microscopic observation, we determined that at least two types of bacteria differing in their morphology co-existed in this isolate, and that it may not be possible to culture the two types separately. Based on tests of substrate utilization, we could not find the characteristics that were common to the isolates. One of the five isolates was inoculated into non-sterile soil, and we examined its root-colonizing ability. The test strain which was not detected in the non-rhizosphere soil, accounted for about 20% of the total bacteria on the roots. These results suggested that enrichment culture might be useful for isolating bacteria with a high root-colonizing ability     

Variable effects of emergence-promoting rhizobacteria on conifer seedling growth under nursery conditions

Summary Inoculation of white spruce (Picea glauca Voss.) seed with Bacillus polymyxa strain L5 under nursery conditions significantly increased the number of seedlings that emerged after sowing. No significant effects on seedling emergence were detected when white spruce seed was inoculated with Bacillus polymyxa strain L6, or when Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] seed was inoculated with either strain L5 or L6. However, white spruce seedlings originating from L5-inoculated seed had significantly lower root dry weights when measured 13 weeks after sowing, and reduced shoot dry weights 26 weeks after sowing compared with uninoculated controls. Inoculation of white spruce seed with strain L6 also resulted in seedlings with decreased root dry weights compared with uninoculated controls 13 weeks after sowing, but the significant inhibition of root growth was not apparent 26 weeks after sowing. Douglasfir seedlings originating from L5-inoculated seed had significantly lower root and shoot dry weights compared with uninoculated controls 13 but not 26 weeks after sowing. Inoculation of Douglas-fir seed with strain L6 resulted in seedlings with decreased root collar diameters and shoot dry weights 13 weeks after sowing, and lower root dry weights 26 weeks after sowing compared with uninoculated controls. These results demonstrate that the effects of bacterial inoculation on seedling emergence and on plant growth are independent, and that emergence-stimulating bacteria may inhibit subsequent seedling growth.     

Cyanide production by rhizobacteria as a possible mechanism of plant growth inhibition

Summary Volatile metabolites from a number of rhizosphere pseudomonads prevented lettuce root growth in a seedling bioassay. One of these metabolites was identified as cyanide. Direct contact between rhizobacteria and plant roots produced, with one exception, similar responses. However, not all cyanogenic isolates were plant-growth-inhibitory rhizobacteria. When grown in liquid culture, cyanogenic strains produced an average of 37 nmol HCN ml^–1 over a 36-h period and inhibition of root growth occurred at concentrations as low as 20 nmol ml^–1. Cyanogenic strains introduced into sand or soil also produced HCN. Two cyanogenic strains ofPseudomonas fluorescens, one (5241) a plant-growth inhibitory rhizobacterium and the other (S97) a plant-growth-promotory rhizobacterium, were used to treat bean and lettuce seedlings prior to planting in soil. Lettuce dry weight was reduced by 49.2% (day 28) and 37.4% (day 49) when inoculated with S241 whereas S97 increased growth initially (+64.5% at day 28, no difference from control at day 49). Equivalent figures for inoculated bean plants were: –52.9% and –65.1% (5241); +40.7% and +23.3% (S97). A more detailed experiment using only bean plants confirmed these contrasting affects. Inhibition by S241 was related to consistently higher levels of rhizosphere cyanide in comparison with S97-treated plants and control soils. S241 also survived in the rhizosphere at higher densities and for a longer period of time than S97. The possible contribution of rhizobacterial cyanogenesis to plant growth inhibition is discussed.     

Effect of co-inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the growth of amaranth plants

This study shows the effect of co-inoculation of three bacterial isolates, viz. Bacillus firmus KUCr1, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans KUCr3 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa KUCd1, on selected growth parameters of amaranth plants. KUCr1 and KUCr3 are reported to be P-solubilizers and indole acetic acid (IAA) producers, and KUCd1 is a siderophore producer. Co-inoculation of the three isolates gave the best results for overall growth of amaranth plants followed by co-inoculation with KUCr1 and KUCd1, then KUCr1 alone. Among the test isolates, KUCr1 and KUCd1 were found to be better rhizosphere colonizers when co-inoculated. KUCr1 and KUCr3 when co-inoculated produced more IAA in liquid medium. Co-inoculation gave insignificant variation in P-solubilization, but siderophore production by KUCd1 was greatly enhanced when inoculated with other isolates in culture conditions. The augmentation of plant growth, whenusing a consortium culture, might be due to better IAA production andsiderophore production by the test isolates. This report suggests that co-inoculation of microbes promotes plant growth better than individual isolates.     

Improvement of simazine degradation by inoculation of corn and soybean plants with rhizobacteria

We isolated the strains of aerobic bacteria, that were able to use the simazine (2-chloro4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine) herbicide as a sole source of nitrogen, from the roots of corn plants and the nodules of soybean plants. Partial base sequences of 16S rRNA genes and physiological characteristics of the representative isolates revealed that they belonged to Agrobacterium radiobacter and Bradyrhizobium japonicum, respectively. Inoculation of corn plants with the isolates of A. radiobacter resulted in a faster decrease in the amount of simazine in vermiculite soil. Neither bacteria nor corn plants alone were able to promote the decrease in the amount of simazine. Soybean plants modulated by the isolates of B. japonicum were more sensitive to simazine in a hydroponic medium compared to non-nodulated soybeans, though a significant decrease in the amount of simazine in the media was observed. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the rhizosphere of corn and soybean plants containing root nodules is an appropriate habitat for simazine-degrading bacteria to degrade the herbicide.     

多功能植物根际促生菌 DD3 的功能特性及对大蒜幼苗的促生效果

【目的】植物根际促生菌 (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, PGPR) 能够促进植物生长、防治病害、增加作物产量,具有较好的环境兼容性、不易引起抗性、效果持久稳定等优势。筛选高效多功能菌,探索抗病促生机理,对开发防控大蒜土传病害的微生物技术,发展“高产、优质、高效、生态、安全”的大蒜产业具有十分重要的理论和现实意义。 【方法】以实验室前期从山东省金乡县连作大蒜根部分离的 70 株细菌为供试菌株,筛选对大蒜根腐病病原真菌拟枝孢镰刀菌 (Fusarium sporotrichioides) ACCC37402 和大蒜叶枯病病原真菌链格孢属菌株 (Alternaria sp.) D14011-1 具有较好拮抗效果的菌株;采用 16S rDNA 基因序列同源性分析,对其进行初步鉴定;通过测定菌株对抗生素的敏感性、水解蛋白能力、产铁载体能力、产 HCN 能力等,研究菌株的拮抗特性;通过测定菌株的固氮能力、溶磷能力、产 IAA 能力,产 ACC 脱氨酶能力等,研究菌株的促生特性;通过温室盆栽试验,进行多功能菌菌悬液及其无菌发酵液对大蒜幼苗生长的影响以及抗病效果研究。 【结果】菌株 DD3 对大蒜根腐病病原真菌 ACCC37402 和大蒜叶枯病病原真菌 D14011-1 具有较好拮抗效果,抑菌率均为 45%;经 16S rDNA 基因序列同源性分析,初步确定为芽孢杆菌属 (Bacillus) 菌株。其它功能特性研究结果显示:菌株 Bacillus sp. DD3 具有水解蛋白能力、产 HCN 能力、产铁载体能力、固氮能力、溶解有机磷和无机磷的能力;对氨苄青霉素钠、硫酸卡那霉素等 11 种抗生素无耐受性,不具有分泌吲哚乙酸 IAA 能力和产 ACC 脱氨酶能力。盆栽试验显示,接种 Bacillus sp. DD3 菌悬液对大蒜根腐病的防治效果较好,防控率达 80%。接种 Bacillus sp. DD3 及其无菌发酵液后能够促进大蒜幼苗的生长,其中接种菌悬液效果更佳。 【结论】菌株 Bacillus sp. DD3 兼具多种功能特性,对大蒜根腐病具有较好的拮抗效果,同时可以显著促进大蒜幼苗生长,有望进一步研究开发成为微生物肥料生产菌种。     

Responses of wheat to zinc sulfate fertilizer and plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria under cadmium stress in soil

Cadmium (Cd) is a major pollutant in soils as a result of extensive use of fertilizers, mining and industrial discharges. Zinc (Zn) and certain bacterial species have been known to alleviate Cd toxicity in plants. In this study, the individual and combined effects of the application of Zn and Pseudomonas species with the aim of reducing Cd stress in wheat cultivars were investigated. Plants (durum wheat and bread wheat) were exposed to different concentrations of Cd and Zn, and either P. putida or P. fluorescens in a growth chamber. Concentrations of Zn, Cd, chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoid, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as antioxidant enzyme activities were assayed. The addition of Zn in soils reduced the toxicity of Cd in durum wheat more than in bread wheat even though there was more uptake of Zn in bread wheat. Analysis of variance showed that by using Zn fertilizer and Pseudomonas species the amounts of peroxidase (POD), polyphenoloxidase (PPO), MDA, and H₂O₂ were reduced at three growth stages. Surprisingly, with increasing Zn concentration, Cd concentration in plant tissue was slightly increased, which suggests that adding Zn to soil could facilitate Cd desorption from soil particles. Application of Pseudomonas and Zn could be a promising solution to reduce detrimental effects of Cd, especially in durum wheat.     

Increase of secondary metabolite content in marigold by inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

The effects of single inoculation and co-inoculation of two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azospirillum brasilense) on growth and essential oil (EO) composition and phenolic content were evaluated in marigold (Tagetes minuta). Plant growth parameters (shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, leaf number, node number) were measured. EO yield increased 70% in P. fluorescens-inoculated and co-inoculated plants in comparison with control (non-inoculated) plants, without altering EO composition. The biosynthesis of the major EO components was increased in the inoculated plants. Shoot fresh weight and EO yield were significantly higher in P. fluorescens-inoculated and in co-inoculated plants than in control plants. The total phenolic content was 2-fold higher in singly-inoculated or co-inoculated treatments than in controls. In view of the economic importance of monoterpenes and phenolic compounds for a variety of applications in the food and cosmetic industries, P. fluorescens and other PGPR have clear potential for improving the productivity of cultivated aromatic plants. Better understanding of the processes that affect the accumulation of secondary metabolites will lead to increased yields of these commercially valuable natural products.     

Plant and soil responses to mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria in nodulated or nitrate-fertilized peas (Pisum sativum L.)

Rhizosphere organisms affect plant development and soil stability. This study was conducted to determine the effects of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus [Glomus mosseae (Nicol. &>; Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe] and a rhizobacterium (Bacillus sp.) on nitrate-fertilized or nodulated pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants and on the status of water-stable soil aggregates. The plants were grown in pots in a yellow clay-loam soil, and inoculated with the VAM fungus and the rhizobacterium, with one of the two, or with neither. The Bacillus sp. and G. mosseae did not affect shoot dry mass in nodulated plants. Under N fertilization, the VAM fungus enhanced plant growth, while the rhizobacterium inhibited shoot growth, VAM root colonization, and nodule formation, but enhanced the root:shoot and the seed:shoot ratios. The inhibition of shoot growth and of root colonization appeared to be related. The water stability and pH of the VAM soils were higher than those of the non-VAM soils. The rhizobacterium enhanced the water-stable aggregate status in the non-VAM soils only. Under both N-nutrition regimes, the soils had the greatest proportion of the water-stable aggregates when inoculated with both rhizo-organisms and the lowest when colonized by neither. The two rhizo-organisms affected both plants and soil, and these effects were modified by the source of N input through N₂ fixation or fertilization. Received: 5 April 1995