水稻内生固氮菌Herbaspirillum seropedicae DX35的筛选及其促生特性

摘要:【目的】筛选水稻高效内生固氮菌,并对其促生特性进行分析。【方法】从湖南祁阳中国农业科学院红壤实验站具30年长期稻-稻-绿肥轮作定位试验田中采集水稻根并分离内生细菌,通过乙炔还原法测定其固氮酶活性,筛选出固氮活性较高的菌株,运用16S rRNA基因、nifH基因以及脂肪酸分析确定其发育地位。同时采用Salkowski比色法测定其生长素的分泌能力,CAS蓝色平板检测法测定产铁载体能力,溶磷圈法测定溶磷性,对其促生特性进行分析。【结果】共分离获得48株内生菌,其中DX35固氮酶活性最高,经鉴定属于Herbaspirillum seropedicae,其固氮酶活性为181.21 nmol C2H4/(mg protein·h),约是参比菌株Azotobacter chroococcum ACCC10006的10倍。另外该菌株还具有一定的分泌铁载体能力和溶磷特性。【结论】DX35属于H.seropedicae,是一种高效内生固氮菌,具有很好的生产应用前景。     

水稻内生固氮菌Herbaspirillum seropedicae DX35的筛选及其促生特性

【目的】筛选水稻高效内生固氮菌,并对其促生特性进行分析。【方法】从湖南祁阳中国农业科学院红壤实验站具30年长期稻-稻-绿肥轮作定位试验田中采集水稻根并分离内生细菌,通过乙炔还原法测定其固氮酶活性,筛选出固氮活性较高的菌株,运用16S rRNA基因、nifH基因以及脂肪酸分析确定其发育地位。同时采用Salkowski比色法测定其生长素的分泌能力,CAS蓝色平板检测法测定产铁载体能力,溶磷圈法测定溶磷性,对其促生特性进行分析。【结果】共分离获得48株内生菌,其中DX35固氮酶活性最高,经鉴定属于Herbaspirillum seropedicae,其固氮酶活性为181.21 nmol C2H4/(mg protein·h),约是参比菌株Azotobacter chroococcum ACCC10006的10倍。另外该菌株还具有一定的分泌铁载体能力和溶磷特性。【结论】DX35属于H.seropedicae,是一种高效内生固氮菌,具有很好的生产应用前景。     

落地生根内生固氮菌多样性和促生特性

【背景】内生固氮菌可以定殖于植物体内为植物提供营养物质,还能通过代谢促进植物生长,目前对于落地生根内生菌的研究鲜见报道。【目的】研究落地生根中内生固氮菌多样性。【方法】从表面消毒的植物组织中分离纯化内生菌,并通过乙炔还原法测定菌株的固氮酶活性。采用SDS-PAGE全细胞蛋白电泳和IS指纹图谱对菌株聚类,各类群代表菌株进行16S rRNA基因系统发育分析和生理生化鉴定。测定菌株固氮、分泌生长素和ACC脱氨酶、产铁载体、溶磷和解钾等促生特性。【结果】从落地生根中分离纯化出26株内生固氮菌,聚为5个类群,隶属于4个属的5个菌种,且各类群代表菌株具有多种促生功能。【结论】从落地生根中分离获得的内生菌具有丰富的遗传多样性和促生特性,并且存在新的微生物资源,有待开发利用。     

4株茶树根际促生菌菌株的鉴定及促生作用

【背景】根际促生菌可以促进植物生长、提高植物抗性。茶树根际具有特殊的根土微生物生境,可以获得具促生作用的有益微生物。【目的】探究4株茶树根际促生菌菌株的分类地位及促生作用,筛选优良的根际促生菌菌株。【方法】通过形态、生理生化特征、16S rRNA基因序列同源性比对鉴定4株茶树根际促生菌,采用钼锑抗比色法测定溶磷量,通过比色法测定ACC脱氨酶活性、CAS法测定产铁载体能力、Salkowski法测定产IAA (Indoleacetic acid)的能力进行促生作用研究,通过盆栽实验测试白菜、空心菜、苋菜及水稻的株高及鲜重以分析促生效应。【结果】鉴定KKS-6-N1为放射型土壤杆菌(Agrobacteriumradiobacter), KKS-7-N7为铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa),GD3为Pseudomonashunanensis,GD12为弯曲芽孢杆菌(Bacillusflexus)。固氮菌株KKS-6-N1可产铁载体;固氮菌株KKS-7-N7具有解磷及产铁载体能力,分泌的IAA含量高达101.29mg/L;解钾菌株GD3具溶磷能力,分泌的ACC脱氨酶酶活为8.09μmol/(mg·h),相对铁载体含量为0.31;具固氮解钾性能的菌株GD12分泌的ACC脱氨酶活性为14.46μmol/(mg·h)。盆栽试验表明,4个菌株对白菜、空心菜、苋菜的株高和鲜重均有明显促进作用,尤以GD3效果更甚。【结论】茶树根际促生菌菌株Pseudomonas hunanensis GD3促生作用显著,具有开发成微生物菌肥的潜力。     

泓森槐可培养内生固氮细菌多样性与潜在促生长特性评价

【背景】泓森槐为豆科刺槐属的速生型落叶乔木,生长快,营养需求多。目前对于泓森槐内生固氮细菌的研究鲜有报道。【目的】研究泓森槐可培养内生固氮细菌的多样性及潜在促生长特性。【方法】从表面消毒的泓森槐根、茎、叶及根瘤中进行内生固氮细菌的分离纯化,采用IS-PCR指纹图谱技术将分离得到的菌株进行聚类,对各类群代表菌株进行16SrRNA基因系统发育分析、生理生化试验、固氮酶活性测定、促生长特性试验。【结果】从泓森槐中分离出56株细菌,聚为10个类群,分别为Paenibacillus sabinae、Klebsiella michiganensis、Kosakonia radicincitans、Kosakonia pseudosacchari、Mesorhizobium erdmanii、Mesorhizobium huakuii、Mesorhizobium silamurunense、Pseudomonas geniculata、Burkholderia territorii和Devosia riboflavina,其中5个类群为联合固氮菌、3个类群为共生固氮菌、2个类群为非固氮菌,表明泓森槐组织内生固氮细菌具有丰富的多样性。促生特性试验表明7个类群具溶磷能力、6个类群具解钾能力、6个类群具有产生长素能力、6个类群具产铁载体能力、2个类群具有产蛋白酶能力。【结论】泓森槐组织内生固氮细菌具有遗传多样性与促生长特性,其在农业微生物菌肥开发利用方面具有潜在价值。     

藤县药用野生稻内生固氮菌分离鉴定及系统发育分析

从广西梧州市藤县药用野生稻中筛选内生固氮菌,为微生物肥料生产收集菌种资源。采用3种无氮培养基经平板划线法筛选内生固氮菌;通过乙炔还原法测定其固氮酶活性;利用IS-PCR(Insertion sequence-based PCR)指纹图谱和全细胞蛋白电泳图谱对获得的内生固氮菌进行聚类分析;根据16S r RNA基因序列分析确定其进化关系;使用分光光度计比色法检测其产生长素能力、产铁载体能力、溶磷能力和ACC脱氨酶活性。结果显示,从野生稻中筛选获得34株内生固氮菌分为5个类群,类群I和II各有8株,类群III、IV、V分别有2株、5株和11株,其固氮酶活性介于5.0和1 036.7 nmol/(m L·h)之间。类群I代表菌株HU33与无乳固氮螺菌(Azospirillum amazonense ATCC 35119T)相似性为97.13%;类群II代表菌株HU31与变栖克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella variicola DSM 15968T)相似性为99.71%;类群III代表菌株HU17与蒙氏假单胞菌(Pseudomonas monteilii ATCC 700476T)相似性为99.86%;类群IV代表菌株HU13与黄黄色杆菌(Xanthobacter flavus ATCC 35867T)相似性为100%;类群V代表菌株CM05与越南伯克霍尔德菌(Burkholderia vietnamiensis LMG 10929T)相似性为99.86%。药用野生稻内生固氮菌资源具有遗传多样性;有些菌株有较强的产生长素、产铁载体、ACC脱氨酶活性和溶磷能力,在农业生产上具有一定的应用潜力;类群I可能是一个新类群。     

攀枝花地区烤烟可培养内生固氮菌的多样性

【目的】认识烤烟(Flue-cured tobaccos)内生固氮菌多样性,挖掘内生固氮菌资源,丰富内生固氮菌基因库。【方法】运用纯培养法、重复因子扩增(BOX-PCR)分析技术、16S r RNA基因测序和系统发育分析对内生固氮菌多样性和系统发育进行研究,并测定分离菌株的固氮酶活性、溶磷溶钾特性、吲哚乙酸(IAA)含量等指标。【结果】通过Ashby培养基共分离得到62株固氮菌。基于BOX-PCR图谱选取16株代表菌株进行16S r RNA基因序列测定。16S r RNA基因序列系统发育分析显示,62株菌株分属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、泛菌属(Pantoea)、短小杆菌属(Curtobacterium)等3个属,其中芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)为优势菌属。62株菌株中有20株菌株(占总分离菌株的32.3%)具有固氮酶活性,8株菌株(占总分离菌株的12.9%)能产IAA,有4株(占总分离菌株的6.5%)表现溶磷活性,有3株(占总分离菌株的4.8%)表现溶钾活性。【结论】攀枝花烤烟有较为丰富的内生固氮菌,具有潜在应用价值。     

古尔班通古特沙漠苔藓结皮土壤中促生菌的分离筛选及促生特性研究

从古尔班通古特沙漠南缘苔藓结皮土壤中分离筛选植物促生菌并阐明其促生特性，对于发掘和应用功能性微生物制剂，促进植被恢复和提升荒漠固沙能力等具有积极意义。采用富集方法从苔藓生物结皮下0～20 cm土壤中分离可培养微生物。利用选择性培养基筛选具溶磷、产铁载体、分泌吲哚乙酸（IAA）特性的菌株。采用钼锑抗比色法、CAS检测法、Salkowski比色法分别测定菌株溶磷量、产生铁载体的浓度、分泌IAA的含量，并对性能优良的菌株进行分类鉴定。共筛选出促生菌31株，其中溶磷菌31株，产铁载体菌13株，分泌IAA菌28株。菌株LB5WH溶解无机磷能力最强，溶磷量为302.24 mg/L；菌株LB15产铁载体能力最强，产生铁载体的浓度 Su值（铁载体活性单位）为85.7%；菌株GA20分泌IAA活性最强，分泌量为15.46 mg/L。菌株LB5WH、LB15同时具有溶磷、产铁载体和分泌IAA活性，菌株GA20具有溶解有机磷、分泌IAA活性。菌株溶解无机磷能力要强于溶解有机磷能力，溶解无机磷菌株的溶磷量与培养液pH值之间呈显著负相关。经鉴定，菌株LB5WH属于芽胞杆菌属（Bacillus），菌株GA20属于寡养单胞菌属（Stenotrophomonas），菌株LB15属于赖氨酸芽胞杆菌属（Lysinibacillus）。这三株细菌的促生功能较多，具有进一步开发为微生物肥料的潜能。本研究为丰富荒漠区促生菌资源，进一步深入研究苔藓结皮下土壤-微生物-植物互作的生态调控机制及荒漠植物促生菌的促生机理提供菌种资源。     

地锦草内生细菌多样性、拮抗及促生特性测定

【背景】植物内生细菌既能抑制病原菌对植物的侵染,也具有促生作用。分离具有拮抗和促生活性的内生细菌可为开发微生物菌肥提供理论依据。【目的】筛选内生细菌中的优势拮抗、促生菌种资源。【方法】以地锦草为材料,采用4种分离培养基分离该植物内生细菌,通过形态特征以及16S r RNA基因序列分析,鉴定内生细菌的分类归属。采用平板对峙法,测定内生细菌对棉花立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)、小麦赤霉病菌(Fusarium graminearum)、玉米小斑病菌(Bipolaris maydis)的拮抗活性。通过固氮、解磷、产吲哚乙酸(Indole Acetic Acid,IAA)、产铁载体能力等指标初步检测地锦草内生细菌的促生活性。【结果】共分离到133株内生细菌,分属于4门5纲8目13科25属,其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)为优势门(52.63%),优势属为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),占15.79%。发现有8株菌相似性小于98.65%,可能为潜在新物种。拮抗活性结果表明,22株菌有不同程度的抑菌作用,其中菌株DHL56、DHN17、DHP3、DHP8对这3种病原菌都有抑制作用,均为芽孢杆菌属。菌株DHP8抑制作用最强,对棉花立枯丝核菌、小麦赤霉病菌抑制率分别为73.80%、71.25%,对玉米小斑病菌抑制率为61.70%。促生潜力结果表明,76株菌具有固氮能力;19株菌具有解磷能力;37株菌能产吲哚乙酸,菌株DHL55产吲哚乙酸的量达到105.67mg/L;7株菌能合成铁载体。其中有9株菌同时有固氮、解磷、产吲哚乙酸能力;菌株DHP8具有固氮、解磷、合成铁载体能力。DHP8不仅具有一定促生潜力,还对棉花立枯丝核菌、小麦赤霉病菌、玉米小斑病菌有明显的拮抗作用,需进一步研究。【结论】地锦草内生细菌种类丰富,获得多株具有优良拮抗和促生活性的菌株,为进一步开发微生物农药及菌肥资源提供新的菌株材料。     

油樟内生溶磷菌的筛选及其生物学特性

筛选具有溶磷能力的植物内生细菌,并探索该类菌的促生和抗逆性能,有助于扩大溶磷微生物来源、研发微生物肥料、改善土壤磷素营养和提高农业产量。该研究以从油樟组织中分离得到的50株内生细菌为材料,通过溶磷圈法初筛得到24株具有溶磷潜能的菌株,利用钼蓝比色法测定它们的溶磷能力和培养液的pH值,并研究溶磷能力较强菌株产生吲哚乙酸( IAA)、铁载体、1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸( ACC)脱氨酶、几丁质酶等促生和抗逆性能。结果表明：24株油樟内生细菌都能从磷酸钙中释放出有效磷(溶磷量为51.26~237.08μg·mL-1),其中,YG60、YG43、YG36、YG25、YG49、YG44株菌的溶磷量较高,均大于150μg·mL-1。接种油樟内生菌后,培养液的pH值均有一定程度的降低,但菌株溶磷量与培养液pH值间不存在显著相关性。6株溶磷量大于150μg · mL-1的菌株大部分具有分泌IAA、产铁载体、ACC脱氨酶活性和几丁质酶活性的能力;其中YG43、YG60和YG25分泌IAA的能力较强(IAA分泌量分别为22.55、18.75和16.41μg·mL-1),YG43和YG60产铁载体的能力较强(As/Ar小于0.6),YG43、YG60和YG25的ACC脱氨酶活性(分别为0.194、0.224、0.208 U·mg-1)较高,YG43和YG60的几丁质酶活性(分别为2.968 U和2.502 U)较高。综合菌株的溶磷、促生和抗逆性能,认为YG43、YG60和YG25菌株在促进植物生长、提高植物抗性及生物防治方面具有较好的应用前景。     

Evaluation of plant growth promoting and colonization ability of endophytic diazotrophs from deep water rice

A study of the diversity of endophytic bacteria present in seeds of a deepwater rice variety revealed the presence of seven types of BOX-PCR fingerprints. In order to evaluate the plant growth promoting potential the presence of nitrogenase, indole acetic acid production and mineral phosphate solubilization were estimated in the representative BOX-PCR types. The seven representatives of BOX-PCR types produced indole acetic acid, reduced acetylene and showed specific immunological cross-reaction with anti-dinitrogenase reductase antibody. Only four types showed mineral phosphate solubilizing ability. Comparison of cellulase and pectinase activities showed differences among different BOX-PCR types. PCR fingerprinting data showed that one strain isolated from the surface sterilized seeds as well as the aerial parts of the seedlings of rice variety showed low cellulase and pectinase but relatively high ARA. On the basis of 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence and BIOLOG system of bacterial identification, this strain was identified as Pantoea agglomerans. For studying the endophytic colonization this strain was genetically tagged with the reporter gene, gusA. Histochemical analysis of the seedling grown in hydroponics showed that the tagged strain colonized the root surface, root hairs, root cap, points of lateral root emergence, root cortex and the stelar region. Treatment of the roots with 2,4-D produced short thickened lateral roots which showed better colonization by P. agglomerans.     

沙棘根瘤内生细菌中抑菌促生菌株的筛选和鉴定

【背景】植物内生细菌可产生具有抑菌和促生活性的物质,既能抑制植物病原菌对寄主植物的侵染,也能促进植物的生长。沙棘根瘤内生细菌是根瘤内除共生固氮的弗兰克氏菌外,与沙棘共生的一大类微生物。研究具有抑菌和促生活性的植物内生菌,可为微生物菌肥的研究提供理论基础。【目的】筛选具有优良抑菌和促生活性的沙棘根瘤内生细菌,初步研究其抑菌和促生活性,并对菌株进行鉴定。【方法】采用双层琼脂法、琼脂扩散法、双层平板对峙法、牛津杯法进行沙棘根瘤拮抗性内生细菌的筛选。选取抑菌活性较高的内生细菌,分别采用Salkowski比色法、ChromeAzurolS(CAS)平板检测法和钼锑抗比色法进行产吲哚乙酸、铁载体及溶磷能力的测定。采用发酵液灌根法测定沙棘根瘤内生细菌SR308对黄瓜促生作用的盆栽效果。通过形态和培养特征、生理生化试验及16S rRNA基因序列分析法对菌株TT201和SR308进行鉴定。【结果】从131株沙棘根瘤内生细菌中筛选出9株具有较强抑菌活性的内生细菌,其中菌株TT201抑菌性最佳、抑菌谱广;菌株SR308的促生活性最好,其发酵液对黄瓜的生长具有较强的促进作用。对具有较强抑菌和促生活性的菌株TT201和SR308进行鉴定的结果表明,菌株TT201为侧孢短芽孢杆菌(Brevibacilluslaterosporus),菌株SR308为蕈状芽孢杆菌(Bacillusmycoides)。【结论】获得2株具有优良抑菌和促生活性的沙棘根瘤内生细菌,为进一步开发微生物农药及菌肥提供了资源。     

东乡野生稻内生放线菌分离及菌株S123次级代谢产物分析

【目的】从东乡野生稻(Oryza rufipogon)中分离和鉴定内生放线菌,对其进行抗菌活性筛选,并分析高抗菌活性菌株S123的次级代谢产物。【方法】采用S培养基对东乡野生稻内生放线菌进行分离、纯化,并构建16S rRNA基因序列系统发育进化树进行菌株鉴定。以琼脂扩散法和菌丝生长速率法进行抗菌活性筛选,同时设计简并引物检测菌株I型聚酮合酶(PKS-I)基因。对具广谱抗菌活性的菌株S123进行分批大量发酵,运用多种色谱方法对发酵产物进行分离、纯化,利用MS和NMR分析鉴定化合物的结构。【结果】从东乡野生稻中共分离到11株内生放线菌,分别属于链霉菌属(8株)和假诺卡氏属(3株)。其中有8株具有抗菌活性,8株呈现I型PKS阳性。从高抑菌活性菌株S123中分离到化合物Nigericin和17-O-demethylgeldanamycin,其中Nigericin对金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌及水稻纹枯病菌均有抑制活性。【结论】对东乡野生稻内生放线菌进行了分离、鉴定和抗菌活性筛选,并从中分到两种与I型PKS基因相关活性的化合物Nigericin和17-O-demethylgeldanamycin,为研究东乡野生稻内生放线菌的多样性和次级代谢产物的分离提供依据。     

具有ACC脱氨酶活性的杜仲内生细菌的分离鉴定及其抗菌活性

采用富集筛选法从杜仲根中分离到5株具有ACC脱氨酶活性的内生细菌, 利用纸片法测定它们的抑菌活性, 通过形态特征、生理生化试验和16S rRNA序列分析对分离菌株进行鉴定。结果显示, 5株杜仲内生细菌均具有较高的ACC脱氨酶活性, 其中4株菌对大肠杆菌CGMCC1.1103和枯草芽孢杆菌CGMCC1.769均有较好的抑菌活性, 通过生理生化试验和16S rRNA序列分析, 将菌株JDM-2、JDM-8、JDM-11、JDM-14和JDM-19分别鉴定为Pseudomonas koreensis、肺炎克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae)、路德维希肠杆菌(Enterobacter ludwigii)、变栖克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella variicola)和阿氏肠杆菌(Enterobacter asburiae)。     

Endophytic colonization of Typha australis by a plant growth-promoting bacterium Klebsiella oxytoca strain GR-3

AIMS: To isolate and characterize endophytic diazotrophic bacteria from a semi-aquatic grass (Typha australis) which grows luxuriantly with no addition of any nitrogen source. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten endophytic diazotrophic bacteria from surface-sterilized roots and culm of T. australis were isolated and screened for plant growth-promoting activities employing standard methods. Based on the rate of nitrogenase activity, indole acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate (P) solubilization, one root isolate namely GR-3 was found to be the most efficient one. This isolate was identified as Klebsiella oxytoca on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Amplification of nifH by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and detection of dinitrogenase reductase by western blot confirmed the diazotrophic nature of GR-3. It was tagged with gusA fused to a constitutive promoter and the resulting transconjugant was inoculated onto endophyte-free rice variety Malviya dhan-36 seedlings to express cross-infection ability which resulted in a significant increase in root/shoot length and chlorophyll a content. CONCLUSIONS: Roots and culm of T. australis harbour several endophytic diazotrophic bacteria. One root isolate, identified as K. oxytoca GR-3, seems to be an efficient plant growth-promoting bacterium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Plant growth-promoting properties of GR-3 suggest that this promising isolate merits further investigations for potential application in agriculture.     

Bacterial Biosynthesis of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate (ACC) Deaminase and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) as Endophytic Preferential Selection Traits by Rice Plant Seedlings

In this study, bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere and inside the roots and nodules of berseem clover plants grown in the field in Iran. Two hundred isolates were obtained from the rhizosphere (120 isolates), interior roots (57 isolates), and nodules (23 isolates) of clover plants grown in rotation with rice plants. Production of chitinase, pectinase, cellulase, siderophore, salicylic acid, hydrogen cyanide, indole acetic acid (IAA), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, solubilization of phosphate, antifungal activity against various rice plant pathogen fungi, N₂ fixation, and colonization assay on rice seedlings by these strains was evaluated and compared (endophytic isolates vs. rhizosphere bacteria). The results showed both the number and the ability of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits were different between endophytic and rhizosphere isolates. A higher percentage of endophytic isolates were positive for production of IAA, ACC deaminase, and siderophore than rhizosphere isolates. Therefore, it is suggested that clover plant may shape its own associated microbial community and act as filters for endophyte communities, and rhizosphere isolates with different (PGP) traits. We also studied the PGP effect of the most promising endophytic and rhizosphere isolates on rice seedlings. A significant relationship among IAA and ACC deaminase production, the size of root colonization, and plant growth (root elongation) in comparison with siderophore production and phosphate solubilization for the isolates was observed. The best bacterial isolates (one endophytic isolate and one rhizosphere isolate), based on their ability to promote rice growth and colonize rice roots, were identified. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the endophytic isolate CEN7 and the rhizosphere isolate CEN8 were closely related to Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens, respectively. It seems that PGP trait production (such as IAA, ACC deaminase) may be required for endophytic and rhizosphere competence as compared to other PGP traits in rice seedlings under constant flooded conditions. The study also shows that the presence of diverse rhizobacteria with effective growth-promoting traits associated with clover plants may be used for sustainable crop management under field conditions.     

Agrochemical resistant mutants of nitrogen fixing cyanobacteriumTolypothrix tenuis as nitrogen fertilizer for rice

Summary Agrochemical resistant mutants of nitrogen fixing cyanobacteriumTolypothrix tenuis were isolated after MNNG mutagenesis. The mutants exhibited higher nitrogenase activity and released more quantities of extracellular nitrogenous, substances such as ammonia, indole acetic acid like substances and amino acids when compared to the parent. They also increased the available nitrogen status of the soil in rice culture. Significant increase in the growth and yield upon inoculation of these mutants into rice culture was observed in comparison with chemical nitrogen fertilizer urea, as well as the parent strain treament.