Azospirillum brasilense mitigates water stress imposed by a vascular disease by increasing xylem vessel area and stem hydraulic conductivity in tomato

Water stress, with its negative consequences on plant growth and survival, can be mitigated by Azospirillum brasilense inoculation. In tomato, A. brasilense delays wilting caused by a vascular pathogen, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, by yet unknown mechanisms. We studied morphological, anatomical and physiological changes induced by A. brasilense in tomato that relate to water stress tolerance, which could explain the deferral in symptom expression. For this purpose, tomato seeds were treated or not with A. brasilense BNM65, and 5 weeks later plants were challenged with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis or mock inoculated with water. There was a large growth promotion associated to Azospirillum: treated plants had higher total biomass and leaf area. In relation to water stress tolerance, Azospirillum treated plants had larger xylem vessel area, higher stem specific hydraulic conductivity, thicker stems, and lower shoot/root dry matter and specific leaf area. These changes were opposite to those induced by C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. We conclude that A. brasilense favoured a better adjustment of plant-water relations by several mechanisms, and thus, transitorily alleviated symptoms expression of a vascular disease.     

田菁种子内生菌的分离及其对萌发的影响

植物-微生物联合修复是改良盐碱地的重要生物策略,其中获得有效的微生物菌株是关键所在。为了获得更多的植物促生菌菌种资源,以滩涂耐盐植物田菁种子为材料分离可培养内生菌。分离纯化得到了79株菌,主要集中分布在Bacillus、Azorhizobium、Cellulosimicrobium三个属。菌株SC45、SC59、SC60、SC24、SC5、SC17六株菌可分泌吲哚乙酸（indole-3-acetic acid,IAA）。SC45、SC59、SC60具有溶解无机磷能力,其中SC60分解无机磷能力最高为（207.9±14.29 ）mg·L-1,且SC45具有产铁载体能力。种子萌发试验结果显示,与对照相比,SC45、SC60、SC59、SC17对田菁种子的活力系数分别可提高13.3%、14.1%、29.9%、26.7%。且SC60和SC17菌株浸种可显著促进胚根的发育,胚根占比提高了29.5%和13%。上述结果表明,Bacillus SC60可分泌IAA和溶解无机磷,提高种子活力,促进胚根发育,可作为田菁促生菌应用于农业生产。     

多功能根际生防促生放线菌的分离鉴定及其对辣椒的益生效果

从健康辣椒根际土壤筛选具防病促生功能的菌种并应用于生物障碍土壤,可为辣椒提质增产和根腐病的防治提供优质的菌剂资源。本研究以辣椒根腐病的病原菌——腐皮镰孢菌（Fusarium solani）为靶标菌,采用平板对峙法筛选优良生防菌株,对其固氮、溶磷、解钾、分泌3-吲哚乙酸（3-indole acetic acid,IAA）、产铁载体、产纤维素酶和蛋白酶、利用酚酸类连作障碍物质等能力进行定性和定量测定。采用形态学、生理生化及16S rRNA基因序列对分离菌株进行鉴定,并采用田间原位栽培试验检测其生防和促生效果。结果表明,从设施连作抗病辣椒根际土中获得6株具有抑菌作用的放线菌,通过定性、定量测试发现菌株G-1拮抗效果最强,其对设施蔬菜5种常见病原菌均具有较好的抑制效果,抗菌谱广,且具有分泌IAA、产铁载体、产纤维素酶和蛋白酶、溶解有机磷、利用酚酸类化感物质等特性。结合形态学、生理生化及16S rRNA进化树分析结果,将其鉴定为弗氏链霉菌（Streptomyces fradiae）。田间原位栽培试验显示,G-1菌剂对辣椒根腐病具有较好的防病作用,可显著降低根腐病的病情指数,促进辣椒根系生长,且可使辣椒增产31.04%。研究表明,弗氏链霉菌G-1具有优良的防病促生功能,其固体菌剂的田间应用对辣椒根腐病具有较好的防治效果,且对辣椒具有明显的促生增产作用,可作为辣椒益生菌剂的候选菌株资源。     

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.     

Responses of native legume desert trees used for reforestation in the Sonoran Desert to plant growth-promoting microorganisms in screen house

Three slow-growing legume trees used for desert reforestation and urban gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern USA were evaluated whether their growth can be promoted by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus pumilus), unidentified arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (mainly Glomus sp.), and supplementation with common compost under regular screenhouse cultivation common to these trees in nurseries. Mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata) and yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) had different positive responses to several of the parameters tested while blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) did not respond. Survival of all tree species was over 80% and survival of mesquite was almost 100% after 10 months of cultivation. Inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms induced significant effects on the leaf gas exchange of these trees, measured as transpiration and diffusive resistance, when these trees were cultivated without water restrictions.     

The effect of combined Azospirillum inoculation and nitrogen fertilizer on plant growth promotion and yield response of the blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella

The investigation was carried out to examine the performance of Azospirillum isolates on growth and N uptake of Gaillardia pulchella with two nitrogen levels. Azospirillum strain OAD-2 inoculation significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, branches per plant and total dry mass accumulation in G. pulchella than other inoculations and/or uninoculated control. The application of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ further enhanced the above plant growth parameters significantly over application of 112 kg N ha⁻¹. The N uptake of G. pulchella was enhanced due to Azospirillum strain OAD-2 inoculation, which was further augmented in the presence of nitrogen. The combination of Azospirillum strain OAD-2 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹ showed the highest N uptake at 120 DAT. Plant growth and yield parameters also increased when inoculated with the non-diazotrophic, but efficient IAA producing, Azospirillum strain OAD-57. From this investigation, it can be concluded that Azospirillum strains OAD-2 and OAD-11 can play an important role in the N nutrition of G. pulchella.     

一株固氮解磷菌的筛选鉴定及其对花生的促生作用研究

本研究从南京板桥镇的灰潮土中,筛选出了一株高效固氮解磷菌,命名为JX14,其固氮酶活性达C2H438.9 nmol/(h·ml),对磷酸三钙的转化量达96.19 mg/L。通过形态观察、生理生化特征及16S r DNA基因序列分析,确定JX14为贪噬菌属(Variovorax sp.)。在温室条件下进行花生盆栽试验,结果表明,接种JX14菌株的处理,土壤NH4+-N、NO3–-N、矿质氮含量较不接菌处理分别提高了1.08、1.18、1.16倍,土壤有效磷含量提高了18.14%。花生根系总长、表面积、体积以及根尖数,较对照分别提高了1.61、1.28、1.37、1.12倍,花生根系变得更长更粗并且具有更多的分支,增强了根对土壤中营养元素的吸收,花生地上部鲜重、株高显著提高了44.78%、14.10%,花生全氮磷钾含量分别显著提高了35.14%、171.43%、133.33%。该结果为植物促生菌JX14在农业生产上的应用提供了理论依据和研究基础。     

Endophytes isolated from ginger rhizome exhibit growth promoting potential for Zea mays

Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are known to colonize ginger rhizome. A total of 57 strains were isolated and identified by 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP fingerprinting, and were grouped into genera Serratia, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Agrobacterium, Ochrobactrum, Bacillus and Tetrathiobacter. Out of 34 representative strains, 14 were positive for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (1.02–49.66 µg ml^–1), 16 were able to solubilize phosphate (9.3–233.05 µg ml^–1) and 18 showed siderophore activities (9.47–70.66%). Six representative strains with plant growth promoting (PGP) activities boosted the growth of Zea mays, where not only the plant height, leaf area, and biomass yield were significantly improved, plant N, P and K uptakes were also increased. Plants co-inoculated with both PGPB and chemical fertilizer also showed an increased yield. Our study thus indicates that there is an abundance of endophytic bacteria in ginger rhizome, some of which possess promising capabilities for enhancing the growth of Z. mays and have the potential to serve as bio-fertilizers for crops.     

Effect of Azospirillum lipoferum and Azotobacter chroococcum on germination and early growth of hopbush shrub (Dodonaea viscosa L.) under salinity stress

Reduced physiological efficiency as well as low and irregular germination rate under environmental stress conditions (e.g., salinity) are among the major factors affecting the propagation of numerous plants, in particular medicinal ones. A factorial experiment using a completely randomized design was employed to evaluate the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on hopbush seed germination and seedling growth under salinity stress. After the seeds were inoculated with the Azospirillum lipoferum, Azotobacter chroococcum, and Azospirillum + Azotobacter and exposed to salinity stress at six levels, they were placed into a germinator at 20°C temperature and 65% relative humidity with a photoperiodic regime of 16 h light/8 h dark at 1,000 lux fluorescent light. The seeds inoculated with the bacterial strains could tolerate salinity levels of up to 50 dS/m and germinate. The combined treatment of Azospirillum + Azotobacter increased germination percentage at 20 and 50 dS/m levels by 21.67 and 10%, respectively. Also, A. chroococcum at 15 and 20 dS/m and Azospirillum + Azotobacter at 50 dS/m stress levels increased germination rate by 88, 316, and 155%, respectively, compared with the control. Furthermore, plant growth parameters—e.g., root and stem length, root and stem dry and fresh weights, as well as the ratios of root length and weight to the stem counterparts—were considerably enhanced by Azotobacter chroococcum treatment under elevated salinity stress (15 and 20 dS/m), relative to the control. Inoculation with A. chroococcum more favorably affected on and was also more compatible with Dodonaea viscosa seedlings leading to considerably improved seedlings growth parameters as well as seed germination under salinity stress.     

红壤中产吲哚乙酸并具解磷作用的促生菌筛选鉴定及促生效果研究

从江西红壤花生地中,筛选出3株产吲哚乙酸(IAA)菌株,其中ZH5菌株具有较强分泌IAA的能力且性能稳定,培养24 h时IAA产量达到43.18μg/ml,且菌株ZH5具有较强的解磷能力。通过菌株形态、生理生化特征测定及16S r RNA的保守序列鉴定,初步确定菌株ZH5为巨大芽孢杆菌(Bacillus megaterium)。对菌株生长和发酵条件进行研究,结果表明促进菌株ZH5生长和增强分泌IAA的最佳培养条件基本一致,最佳培养条件初始p H为6~8,最佳通气量为50 ml/250 ml,30℃摇床培养24 h;最佳碳源和氮源分别是蔗糖和酵母粉。在实验室中进行盆栽试验,结果表明用ZH5菌株处理的花生株高增加了54.0%;植株鲜重增加了49.8%;并且ZH5菌株处理的花生植株全磷及花生根长、根尖数、根表面积及根体积均有显著增加,分别增加了21.84%、64.20%、28.20%、34.35%和68.67%。该研究结果为菌株ZH5在农业生产中的应用提供了理论依据和实验基础。