Commercial rhizobial inoculants significantly enhance growth and nitrogen fixation of a promiscuous soybean variety in Kenyan soils

Low effectiveness of native strains remains a limitation to soybean productivity in sub-Saharan Africa; while in other countries commercial inoculants are produced that provide effective strains that stimulate N fixation and growth. An experiment was set up to evaluate the response of a dual purpose promiscuous soybean variety (TGx1740-2F) and a non-promiscuous variety (Nyala) to commercial rhizobium inoculants in soils from central and coastal Kenya. Highest nodulation was observed in some of the treatments with commercial inoculants applied with nodule weights of 4.5 and 1.0 g plant⁻¹ for TGx1740-2F and Nyala, respectively. Average biomass yields of TGx1740-2F (16 g plant⁻¹) were twice as large as of Nyala (7.5 g plant⁻¹) at the podding stage. Nitrogen fixation was higher in TGx1740-2F than in Nyala, and positively affected by a number of commercial inoculants with more than 50% N derived from the atmosphere. Nodule occupancy was 100% on both soybean varieties, indicating that the commercial strains were extremely infective in both of the tested soils. These results showed that commercial strains can be used to inoculate promiscuous soybean and enhance N fixation and yield.     

Evaluating the efficacy of cyanobacterial formulations and biofilmed inoculants for leguminous crops

Our investigation was aimed towards evaluating the agronomic potential of biofilmed preparations (developed using Anabaena/Trichoderma as matrices with different agriculturally useful bacteria/fungi as partners) and selected cyanobacterial strains (Anabaena laxa (T7) RP8/Calothrix sp.). The formulations were prepared using paddy straw compost:vermiculite (1:1) as carrier and tested as inoculants in mungbean and soybean. The effects of the formulations were evaluated in terms of microbiological, nutrient availability, and plant biometric parameters. The Trichoderma viride–Bradyrhizobium biofilm exhibited 20–45% enhancement in fresh/dry weight of plants over other microbial treatments, while the T. viride–Azotobacter biofilm exhibited highest dehydrogenase activity in the soil and nitrogen fixation. T7 RP8 recorded statistically at par yield values with the T. viride–Bradyrhizobium (T5) biofilm treatment in mungbean. In soybean, among all the treatments, the T5 biofilm recorded the highest fresh weight of plants and available N in soil at harvest. The Anabaena–T. viride biofilmed formulations proved to be the most promising for soybean, recording 12–25% enhanced yield and microbial activity (measured as dehydrogenase activity). This study highlights the promise of cyanobacterial inoculants and biofilmed biofertilizers as promising inputs for integrated nutrient management strategies in agriculture.     

Alternatives to peat as a carrier for rhizobia inoculants: Solid and liquid formulations

Many of the microbial inoculants all over the world are based on solid peat formulations. This has been mostly true for well developed legume inoculants based on selected rhizobial strains, due to peat bacterial protection properties. Six carriers (bagasse, cork compost, attapulgite, sepiolite, perlite and amorphous silica) were evaluated as alternatives to peat. Compost from the cork industry and perlite were superior to peat in maintaining survival of different rhizospheric bacteria. Other tested materials were discarded as potential carriers for soybean rhizobia. Also, different liquid culture media have been assayed employing mannitol or glycerol as C sources. Some media maintained more than 10⁹ cfu ml^?1 of Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii SMH12 or Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 after 3 months of storage. Rhizobial survival on pre-inoculated seeds with both solid and liquid formulations previously cured for 15 days led to a higher bacterial numbers in comparison with recently made inoculants. An additional curing time of solid inoculants up to 120 days had a beneficial effect on rhizobial survival on seeds. The performance of different formulations of two highly effective soybean rhizobia strains was assayed under field conditions. Soybean inoculated with cork compost, perlite and liquid formulations produced seed yields that were not significantly different to those produced by peat-based inoculants.     

Bacterial inoculants for rice: effects on nutrient uptake and growth promotion

Beneficial soil bacteria are able to colonize plant root systems promoting plant growth and increasing crop yield and nutrient uptake through a variety of mechanisms. These bacteria can be an alternative to chemical fertilizers without productivity loss. The objectives of this study were to test bacterial inoculants for their ability to promote nutrient uptake and/or plant growth of rice plants subjected to different rates of chemical fertilizer, and to determine whether inoculants could be an alternative to nitrogen fertilizers. To test the interaction between putatively beneficial bacteria and rice plants, field experiments were conducted with two isolates: AC32 (Herbaspirillum sp.) and UR51 (Rhizobium sp.), and different nitrogen fertilization conditions (0%, 50%, and 100% of urea). Satisfactory results were obtained in relation to the nutrient uptake by plants inoculated with both isolates, principally when the recommended amount of nitrogen fertilizer was 50% reduced. These bacterial strains were unable to increase plant growth and grain yield when plants were subjected to the high level of fertilization. This study indicated that the tested inoculant formulations can provide essential nutrients to plants, especially when the levels of nitrogen fertilizers are reduced.     

微生物菌剂对菠菜生长特性及土壤微生物多样性的影响

通过化肥减量20%和40%并配施微生物菌剂试验,研究菌剂对菠菜营养生长的影响,并通过提取土壤微生物总DNA,进行16S rDNA的PCR-DGGE研究微生物多样性。结果表明:在菠菜生长后期,配施菌剂处理的叶绿素含量(SPAD值)和叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm)较高,其中,T5(化肥减量40%+菌剂减量40%)处理SPAD为52.856,T3(化肥减量20%+菌剂减量40%)处理Fv/Fm为0.797,而在生长前期则表现为T1(全量化肥)处理较高;菠菜可食部分硝酸盐含量以对照(CK,不施肥)处理最高,为1 009.21 mg.kg-1,添加微生物菌剂处理(T2~T5)都明显少于CK和T1处理;对氮、磷、钾养分的吸收利用率以T2(化肥减量20%+全量菌剂)处理最好;菠菜产量化肥减量处理(T2~T5)较T1处理均增产,T4(化肥减量40%+全量菌剂)处理的增产量最大,平均产量达到277.73 g.盆-1,增加170%;常规化肥(T1)处理的土壤微生物丰富度指数最低,香农-威尔指数(Shannon-Wierner index)为0.398,较CK 0.498有所下降,而施用微生物菌剂的各处理(T2~T5)为0.547~0.983,土壤微生物多样性指数明显提高。微生物菌剂对菠菜起到显著促生作用,以T4处理最好,对提高菠菜土壤微生物多样性方面以T3处理最好。     

Determination of diclofenac sodium and related compounds in raw materials and formulations

A liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determination of drug and related compounds in diclofenac sodium raw material, slow-release, and enteric coated tablets. The method specifies a 5 microns octadecylsilane bonded phase column, a mobile phase of tetrahydrofuran-acetonitrile-buffer, pH 5 (1 + 4 + 8.3), and detection at 229 nm. The method resolves 10 known related compounds with limits of quantitation of 0.2% or less. Seventeen drug raw material samples were evaluated. Total impurity levels ranged from 0.1 to 0.9%. The method has also been used for determination of drug content in raw materials and formulations. Mean assay levels in drug raw materials ranged between 98.3% and 101.8%.     

Evaluating the potential of plant growth promoting cyanobacteria as inoculants for wheat

Diazotrophic heterocystous cyanobacteria are known to possess the ability to form associations with vascular/non-vascular plants and produce growth-promoting substances. Most of the work on cyanobacterial inoculants has been focused on rice and other crops have received little attention. Our investigation was directed towards evaluating the potential of three cyanobacterial isolates from the rhizosphere of wheat, with emphasis on their plant growth promoting activity in pot culture experiments. All treatments were taken up in sterile soil, under controlled conditions of National Phytotron Facility, IARI and in the Glasshouse, using unsterile soil. The treatments in which all the three-cyanobacterial isolates were applied along with 1/3 N + P + K gave statistically equivalent results as compared to application of with full dose of chemical fertilizers in terms of grain yields. Significant enhancement in microbial biomass carbon in the treatments was observed at mid-crop and harvest stage, over uninoculated controls. Field level evaluation of these strains and testing under different agro-climatic conditions will help to further evaluate their agronomic efficiency and utility in integrated nutrient management of wheat crop.     

Natural and technogenic compounds of heavy metals in soils

The existing geological classification of heavy metals (HMs) is not suitable for their characterization in soils. The carriers of HMs in soils differ from those in the lithosphere. These are clay minerals; iron oxides, whose composition varies between the background and urban soils; various manganese oxides; and different groups of organic substances. The mineral composition of HM carriers can vary significantly. The main iron oxides are ferrihydrite, goethite, feroxyhyte, and lepidocrocite in the background soils and technogenic magnetite in the urban soils. The different structures of manganese oxides determine their affinity for specific HMs. Metallic iron and green rust are very efficient in artificial geochemical barriers, although they act as strong reducers there. HM compounds strongly vary in soils because of the unstable conditions.     

Natural and synthetic antioxidant additives for improving the performance of new biolubricant formulations

Knowledge of the oxidative stability of vegetable oils for lubricant applications is a key point, because vegetable oil oxidation potential is the main disadvantage for its use as a lubricant. Oil degradation after an oxidation process can seriously affect its lubricating function and increase wear. In this work, two different methods for evaluating the oxidation stability of lubricating vegetable oils, the oxidation onset temperature, characterized through DSC measurements (ASTM E 2009-08), and the pressure drop in the oxygen pressure vessel (ASTM D 942-02), have been used. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR studies have also been carried out. High-oleic sunflower (HOSO) and castor (CO) oils were selected and blended with natural ((+)-α-tocopherol (TCP), propyl gallate (PG), l-ascorbic acid 6-palmitate (AP)) or synthetic antioxidants (4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (MBP)), with the aim of formulating biodegradable vegetable-based lubricants according to REACH regulation. (1) The results showed that the most effective biodegradable antioxidant is PG, comparable to MBP, whereas lower effectiveness was obtained for TCP and AP. In relation to the methods tested, DSC measurements achieve accurate data more quickly for evaluating the oxidation stability of these basestocks, showing a linear correlation with the traditional method based on the oxygen bomb test. The empirical equation obtained depends on the mechanism involved in the antioxidant activity.     

接种根瘤菌对不同品种绿豆生长及产量的影响

在田间试验条件下,调查了品种2号、中绿5号和冀绿9号3个绿豆品种接种根瘤菌菌剂对植株及产量等性状的影响.研究发现,接种根瘤菌可显著促进品种2号和冀绿9号两个绿豆品种的生长,根瘤数量明显增多,产量分别增加41％和29％;中绿5号接种根瘤菌后,产量不增反降,但总根瘤数要明显高于对照,且主根瘤数也高于其他两个品种.从而建议根瘤菌的应用应与品种相匹配.     

木霉复合菌剂与拮抗性腐熟堆肥对水稻生长及稻瘟病的防控研究

稻瘟病是水稻三大病害之一,在水稻整个生长发育期间都有发生。研究了2种木霉复合菌剂(堆肥腐熟菌剂和水稻拮抗菌剂)与2种有机肥(普通有机肥和拮抗有机肥)对稻瘟病原茵的抑制作用、水稻生长的影响以及对叶瘟病和穗瘟病的防治作用。结果表明,添加木霉腐熟复合菌剂堆肥制备而成的有机肥即拮抗有机肥,拮抗堆肥60 d的0.2%无菌浸提液对稻瘟病病原菌ACCC 37361具有显著抑制作用,平板抑菌率为9.92%,显著高于普通有机肥(1.19%,P<0.05)。水稻品种“沪早香软1号”移栽第2、4、6周时,拮抗有机肥和拮抗生物有机肥处理的水稻株高显著高于普通有机肥处理,拮抗生物有机肥比普通有机肥处理的株高平均分别高出6.99、5.62和6.80 cm。上海崇明岛北湖农场的田间试验结果表明,与普通有机肥相比,拮抗有机肥和水稻拮抗菌剂共同施用显著增加成熟期间的水稻株数,并提高水稻产量(P<0.05);拮抗有机肥加施2次水稻拮抗菌剂处理对稻瘟病防治效果最好,扬花授粉期的叶瘟病相对防效为42.09%,灌浆期和成熟期的穗瘟病相对防效分别为65.76%和61.80%。研究表明拮抗有机肥与水稻拮抗菌剂同时施用,具有较好的促生抑菌效果,可广泛应用于绿色水稻的生产。     

Effect of Azospirillum inoculants on arbuscular mycorrhiza establishment in wheat and maize plants

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi represent two main groups of beneficial microorganisms of the rhizosphere. The role of different strains of Azospirillum on AM fungi development was evaluated by measuring the percentage of AM colonisation of the root system in durum wheat and maize plants, grown under both greenhouse and field conditions. The effect of wild-type Azospirillum brasilense strain Sp245 and genetically modified (GM) derivatives overproducing indole-3-acetic acid was assessed at greenhouse level in (1) three different cultivars of durum wheat, in the presence of indigenous AM fungi and (2) maize plants artificially inoculated with Glomus mosseae and Glomus macrocarpum. In addition, the establishment of natural AM fungal symbiosis was evaluated using Azospirillum lipoferum CRT1 in maize plants at field level. Despite the stimulatory effect of the different Azospirillum inocula on root growth, no significant differences in AM colonisation were found, independently of the AM fungus involved, either in wheat or in maize plants. Similarly, GM A. brasilense, which strongly stimulates root development, did not affect AM formation. Although these results were obtained in conditions in which the mycorrhization rate was moderate (15–30%), overall considered they indicate that the use of wild-type or GM Azospirillum phytostimulators does not alter mycorrhization.     

复合微生物菌剂在污泥高温好氧堆肥中的应用

试验研究复合微生物菌剂在污泥高温好氧堆肥中的应用结果表明,污泥高温好氧堆肥中接种复合微生物菌剂对缩短达到高温期的时间以及增加堆体中细菌、真菌、放线菌数量效果不显著,但接种复合微生物菌剂处理高温持续时间相对较长,且提前3d达到腐熟。     

不同茬口土壤和大豆品种对根瘤菌遗传多样性的影响

土壤和大豆品种是影响根瘤菌遗传多样性的主要因素。本研究通过土壤捕捉试验,分别从冬小麦茬口和玉米茬口土壤中种植的4个大豆品种根瘤中分离得到149株快生根瘤菌和49株慢生根瘤菌。对这些菌株进行16S rDNA限制性酶切分析(ARDRA)、16S-23S基因间隔(IGS)以及共生基因(nod C)的限制性片段长度多态性分析(RFLP),考察土壤茬口和大豆品种对大豆根瘤菌遗传多样性的影响。ARDRA分析结果表明,快生根瘤菌全部属于中华根瘤菌属(Sinorhizobium),慢生根瘤菌全部属于慢生根瘤菌属(Bradyrhizobium)。IGS酶切分型将所有菌株分为3种图谱类型,其中型Ⅰ与辽宁慢生根瘤菌(B.liaoningense)的模式菌株酶切图谱类型完全一致,型Ⅱ和型Ⅲ与费氏中华根瘤菌(S.fredii)的模式菌株酶切图谱类型完全一致。综合以上结果,本研究分离到的菌株分属于以上2个种。在两种茬口土壤中快生根瘤菌费氏中华根瘤菌均为优势种群,在冬小麦茬口土壤中的比例(平均95.18%)远高于玉米茬口土壤(平均53.78%)。‘冀豆12’大豆品种的费氏中华根瘤菌在两种茬口土壤中所占比重均高于其他品种。对菌株的IGS基因型与宿主大豆品种的相关性分析表明,大豆品种与根瘤菌IGS基因型之间具有一定相关性。nod C-RFLP酶切分型结果表明,土壤茬口和大豆品种对菌株的共生基因无明显影响。本研究表明根瘤菌、土壤茬口和大豆品种间存在一定的相关性。土壤茬口对根瘤菌的种群结构影响较大,大豆品种对根瘤菌的基因型具有一定的选择性。     

Diversity and phylogeny of rhizobial strains isolated from Lotus uliginosus grown in Uruguayan soils

Lotus uliginosus is generally nodulated by rhizobia of the genus Bradyrhizobium when used for improvement of Uruguayan pastures. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 111 isolates from nodules of L. uliginosus collected from four fields with or without prior inoculation history were analyzed in this study. Genetic diversity estimated by ERIC-PCR revealed 75 different genomic fingerprints, and showed a relatively greater value compared with other methods and varied by soil type. 16S ribosomal RNA gene RFLP analysis revealed three different ribogroups, A, B and C, with 71 isolates in ribogroup A, three isolates in ribogroup B and only one in ribogroup C. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S RNA gene sequences, ITS, as well as atpD, recA and glnII gene sequences indicated that ribogroup A strains were affiliated with B. japonicum bv. genistearum strains. The three isolates in ribogroup B did not clearly associate with any Bradyrhizobium species described previously and could represent a novel species within this genus. Unlike B. japonicum strains these isolates were able to nodulate and fix nitrogen with other Lotus species as well as with Spartium, a leguminous shrub. The unique isolate in ribogroup C clustered with Mesorhizobium and appeared genetically and phenotypically related to broad host-range Mesorhizobium sp. NZP2037. Our data suggest that Uruguayan soils contain native or naturalized bradyrhizobia that are able to nodulate L. uliginosus as efficiently as the commercial strain NZP2309 but could have adaptive advantages making them more suitable for inoculant purposes.     

Effects of microbial inoculants on phosphorus and potassium availability,bacterial community composition,and chili pepper growth in a calcareous soil: a greenhouse study

Purpose

Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are two important essential nutrient elements for plant growth and development but their availability is often limited in calcareous soils. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of applying microbial inoculants (MI, containing effective strains of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus mucilaginous) on the availability of P and K, plant growth, and the bacterial community in calcareous soil.

Materials and methods

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to explore the effects of the addition of MI (control: without MI addition; treatment: with MI addition at the rate of 60 L ha^?1) on the concentrations of P and K in soil and plant, soil bacterial community diversity and composition, and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growth.

Results and discussion

The results showed that MI inoculation significantly increased the fruit yields by 28.5% (p?<?0.01), available P and K in the rhizosphere soil by 32.1% and 28.1% (p?<?0.05), and P and K accumulation in the whole plants by 40.9% and 40.2%, respectively (p?<?0.05). Moreover, high-throughput sequencing revealed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant phyla of soil bacteria. MI application did not significantly impact the diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities, but increased relative abundances of bacterial genera Flavobacterium responsible for promoting root development across growing stages (p?<?0.05), and changed the soil bacterial community structure associated closely with soil properties of available P, K, and pH in soil.

Conclusions

The application of MI improved the bioavailability of P and K and plant growth due to its impact on the soil bacterial community structure.