The salt stress relief and growth promotion effect of Rs-5 on cotton

The effect of the Rs-5 bacteria strain, identified as Klebsiella oxytoca and isolated with ACC as the sole nitrogen source, on salt stressed cotton seedling growth was studied. It was demonstrated that Rs-5 could obviously relieve salt stress and promote cotton seedling growth. After treatment with Rs-5, the individual plant height and dry weight of cotton increased by 14.9 and 26.9%, respectively, compared to the control. Further analysis found that Rs-5 exhibited the ability to increase the cotton’s absorption of the N, P, K, and Ca elements and decrease the absorbability of the Na element under salt stress. In addition, Rs-5 itself could produce phytohormone-auxin, and was capable of dissolving phosphorus (P). The ratio of the dissolved P diameter to the colony diameter was 1.86. The dissolved P was 81.6 mg·l⁻¹ in media after four days of incubation. Responsible Editor: Petra Marschner.     

Effect of transferring 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase genes into Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CHA0 and its gacA derivative CHA96 on their growth-promoting and disease-suppressive capacities

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CHA0, a root colonizing bacterium, has a broad spectrum of biocontrol activity against plant diseases. However, strain CHA0 is unable to utilize 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the immediate precursor of plant ethylene, as a sole source of nitrogen. This suggests that CHA0 does not contain the enzyme ACC deaminase, which cleaves ACC to ammonia and alpha-ketobutyrate, and was previously shown to promote root elongation of plant seedlings treated with bacteria containing this enzyme. An ACC deaminase gene, together with its regulatory region, was transferred into P. fluorescens strains CHA0 and CHA96, a global regulatory gacA mutant of CHA0. ACC deaminase activity was expressed in both CHA0 and CHA96. Transformed strains with ACC deaminase activity increased root length of canola plants under gnotobiotic conditions, whereas strains without this activity had no effect. Introduction of ACC deaminase genes into strain CHA0 improved its ability to protect cucumber against Pythium damping-off, and potato tubers against Erwinia soft rot in small hermetically sealed containers. In contrast, ACC deaminase activity had no significant effect on the ability of CHA0 to protect tomato against Fusarium crown and root rot, and potato tubers against soft rot in large hermetically sealed containers. These results suggest that (i) ACC deaminase activity may have lowered the level of plant ethylene thereby increasing root length; (ii) the role of stress-generated plant ethylene in susceptibility or resistance depends on the host-pathogen system, and on the experimental conditions used; and (iii) the constructed strains could be developed as biosensors for the role of ethylene in plant diseases.     

Improved growth performance of the mangrove <Emphasis Type="Italic">Avicennia marina</Emphasis> seedlings using a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase-producing isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoalteromonas maricaloris</Emphasis>

Out of 62 bacterial isolates obtained from the mangrove Avicennia marina rhizosphere that grows along the Abu Dhabi coast, United Arab Emirates (UAE), an isolate of Pseudoalteromonas maricaloris (Wild type strain) (WT) produced relatively high levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase in vitro. Application of this WT strain under greenhouse conditions to A. marina seedlings significantly (P < 0.05), reduced endogenous levels of ACC in the roots and shoots, and significantly (P < 0.05) increased the levels of in planta endogenous plant growth regulators (PGRs) including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPYA), putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) in roots and shoots compared with control mangrove seedlings. WT application has also significantly (P < 0.05) increased photosynthetic pigment contents, photosynthetic carbon assimilation, plant water use efficiency and promoted mangrove seedlings growth characteristics including increased dry weight and length of roots and shoots, total leaf area and the number of the side branches compared with control mangrove seedlings. In comparison, an ACC deaminase non-producing mutant strain (NPM) failed to reduce endogenous levels of ACC in the roots and shoots and also failed to increase endogenous PGRs and photosynthetic pigments and did not promote seedling growth. Both WT and NPM strains were incapable of producing in vitro detectable levels of IAA, IPYA, Gibberellic acid (GA₃), zeatin (Z), Put, Spd and Spm in the culture filtrates. This study demonstrated for the first time the ability of ACC deaminase-producing bacteria to promote mangrove growth under greenhouse conditions. P. maricaloris has potential as biological inoculants to promote the growth of mangrove seedlings in afforestation programs in nutrient impoverished sediments in hyper-saline coastal areas in the UAE.     

Response of spring rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera L.) to inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase depends on nutrient status of the plant

Responses of rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera L.) to inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, Pseudomonas putida Am2, Pseudomonas putida Bm3, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans Cm4, and Pseudomonas sp. Dp2, containing 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase were studied using growth pouch and soil cultures. In growth pouch culture, the bacteria significantly increased root elongation of phosphorus-sufficient seedlings, whereas root elongation of phosphorus-deficient seedlings was not affected or was even inhibited by the bacteria. Bacterial stimulation of root elongation of phosphorus-sufficient seedlings was eliminated in the presence of a high ammonia concentration (1 mM) in the nutrient solution. Bacterial effects on root elongation of potassium-deficient and potassium-sufficient seedlings were similar. The bacteria also decreased inorganic phosphate content in shoots of potassium- and phosphorus-sufficient seedlings, reduced ethylene production by phosphorus-sufficient seedlings, and inhibited development of root hairs. The effects of treatment with Ag+, a chemical inhibitor of plant ethylene production, on root elongation, ethylene evolution, and root hair formation were similar to bacterial treatments. The number of bacteria on the roots of phosphorus-deficient seedlings was not limited by phosphorus deficiency. In pot experiments with soil culture, inoculation of seeds with bacteria and treatment with aminoethoxyvinylglycine, an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis in plants, increased root and (or) shoot biomass of rape plants. Stimulation of plant growth caused by the bacteria was often associated with a decrease in the content of nutrients, such as P, K, S, Mo, and Ba, in shoots, depending on the strain used. The results obtained show that the growth-promoting effects of ACC-utilizing rhizobacteria depend significantly on the nutrient status of the plant.     

Putrescine Effect on Nitrate Reductase Activity, Organic Nitrogen, Protein, and Growth in Heavy Metal and Salinity Stressed Mustard Seedlings

Putrescine effect on nitrate reductase activity, organic nitrogen and protein contents, and plant growth under Cd or Pb (0.1 – 2 mM) and salinity (5 and 100 mM NaCl) stresses was examined in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. RH-30) seedlings. Cd or Pb and salinity inhibited nitrate reductase activity and decreased organic nitrogen and protein contents in leaf tissue. The increased nitrate reductase activity induced by putrescine was correlated with increased organic nitrogen and protein contents and growth of plants.     

氮肥对风箱果幼苗形态和生理特性的影响

采用盆栽实验的方法,设置4种水平氮肥处理,研究不同氮肥处理对风箱果1年生幼苗的生长表现、生物量积累和分配、光合生理特征、非结构性碳（NSC）积累等的影响。结果表明：施用氮肥促进了风箱果幼苗的地径、分枝数和冠幅的生长,促进了茎、叶和总生物量的积累（P<0.05）,提高了茎的生物量分配比例,减少了根生物量的分配比例;施用氮肥显著提高了净光合速率、叶氮含量、茎中的可溶性糖和NSC的积累（P<0.05）,但减少了根中的可溶性糖和NSC含量（P<0.05）。不同水平氮肥处理间（N1、N2、N3）的大部分指标差异并不显著,说明风箱果幼苗对土壤养分的变化并不敏感。     

Stimulation of Nodulation in the Clover-Rhizobium trifolii 0403 System by Penicillin and Mecillinam

The number of nodules produced per clover seedling inoculated with Rhizobium trifolii 0403 can be increased almost 2-fold by the addition of penicillin or mecillinam. Two-day-old dutch white clover seedlings grown in 250 milliliter boston round jars containing agar-solidified plant growth medium were inoculated with exponentially growing Rhizobium trifolii 0403 cells. Penicillin or mecillinam (100 micrograms per milliliter) were added immediately or after 24 hours. Following 42 days growth, 10 replicate sets of 5 plants for each treatment were assayed for nodule number, plant dry weight, and Kjeldahl nitrogen. Both antibiotics increased nodule number, plant dry weight, and Kjeldahl nitrogen. Increases in nodule number and dry weight were statistically significant. The range of values in Kjeldahl nitrogen was so extensive as to make the data insignificant at the P < 0.05 level, however nodule number, plant dry weight, and Kjeldahl nitrogen displayed a significant correlation with each other. There were no significant differences in treatment with either antibiotic or with time of treatment. Nodule number increased by about 85%, and plant dry weight and nitrogen increased by about 30%.     

Effect of salinity on nodulation,nitrogen fixation and growth of common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris)</Emphasis> inoculated with rhizobial strains isolated from the Haouz region of Morocco

This study compared growth, nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and nodular enzyme activities in response to salinity in some common bean-rhizobia symbiotic combinations. Seeds of Paulista and Efequince, two varieties of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were germinated and seedlings were transferred to pots containing vermiculite inoculated with the reference Rhizobium strain CIAT899 or with RhM11 or RhM14, two local strains. Plants were grown in a temperature-controlled glasshouse at 28°C and irrigated with a nutrient solution without NaCl (control) or supplemented with 25 mM NaCl (stressed). Plants were harvested at the flowering stage. The results showed that in controls, inoculation with RhM11 improved plant and nodule growth compared with those inoculated with RhM14 and CIAT 899. NaCl treatment generally had a negative affect on plant and nodule growth. Under the saline treatment, symbiotic nitrogen fixation was not significantly affected in the CIAT899-Paulista, CIAT899-Efequince and RhM11-Paulista combinations. Plant mineral nutrition was negatively affected under salt treatment for all of the tested symbiotic combinations. Inoculation with CIAT899 and RhM11 conferred more plant tolerance to salinity than inoculation with RhM14. The nodular phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) exhibited higher activities and were less affected by salinity in plants inoculated with the reference strain CIAT899 than those inoculated with local strains. We conclude that plants inoculated with CIAT899 and RhM11 showed more salinity stress tolerance than those inoculated with RhM14.     

氮肥对棉田主要害虫种群密度及棉花产量的影响

通过2年的田间研究,分析了3种不同施氮水平对棉花主要害虫棉玲虫、棉蚜种群动态、棉花蕾铃脱落及棉花产量的影响。结果表明,增施氮肥的棉田棉铃虫和棉蚜数量比对照田要高,但它们之间的差异没有达到显著的水平。不同年份对棉铃虫种群密度有显著影响,但对棉蚜种群没有显著影响。蕾花期施肥可减轻棉铃虫为害造成的花蕾脱落和自然脱落,增加有效铃数和产量,但增加量没有达到显著水平。     

Coronatine alleviates salinity stress in cotton by improving the antioxidative defense system and radical-scavenging activity

Coronatine (COR) is a chlorosis-inducing phytotoxin that mimics some biological activities of methyl jasmonate. This study investigated whether COR confers salinity tolerance to cotton and whether such tolerance is correlated with changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. COR at 0.01muM was applied hydroponically to cotton seedlings at the two-leaf stage for 24h. A salinity stress of 150mM NaCl was imposed after completion of COR treatment for 15d. Salinity stress reduced biomass of seedlings and increased leaf superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR), and of the stable free radical, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), scavenging activity were altered by salinity to varying degrees. Pretreatment with COR increased the activities of CAT, POD, GR, and DPPH scavenging activity in leaf tissues of salinity-stressed seedlings. Thus, COR might reduce the production of reactive oxygen species by activating antioxidant enzymes and DPPH-radical scavenging, thereby preventing membrane peroxidation and denaturation of bio-molecules.     

Interactions between Pseudomonas putida UW4 and Gigaspora rosea BEG9 and their consequences for the growth of cucumber under salt-stress conditions

Aims: After the determination of the toxic but nonlethal concentration of NaCl for cucumber, we examined the interaction between an ACC (1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate) deaminase producing bacterial strain and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and their effects on cucumber growth under salinity. Methods and Results: In the first experiment, cucumber seedlings were exposed to 0·1, 50, 100 or 200 mmol l^?1 NaCl, and plant biomass and leaf area were measured. While seeds exposed to 200 mmol l^?1 NaCl did not germinate, plant growth and leaf size were reduced by 50 or 100 mmol l^?1 salt. The latter salt cancentration caused plant death in 1 month. In the second experiment, seeds were inoculated with the ACC deaminase‐producing strain Pseudomonas putida UW4 (AcdS⁺), its mutant unable to produce the enzyme (AcdS^?), or the AMF Gigaspora rosea BEG9, individually or in combination and exposed to 75 mmol l^?1 salt. Plant morphometric and root architectural parameters, mycorrhizal and bacterial colonization and the influence of each micro‐organism on the photosynthetic efficiency were evaluated. The AcdS⁺ strain or the AMF, inoculated alone, increased plant growth, affected root architecture and improved photosynthetic activity. Mycorrhizal colonization was inhibited by each bacterial strain. Conclusions: Salinity negatively affects cucumber growth and health, but root colonization by ACC deaminase‐producing bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can improve plant tolerance to such stressful condition. Significance and Impact of the Study: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and bacterial ACC deaminase may ameliorate plant growth under stressful conditions. It was previously shown that, under optimal growth conditions, Ps. putida UW4 AcdS⁺ increases root colonization by Gi. rosea resulting in synergistic effects on cucumber growth. These results suggest that while in optimal conditions ACC deaminase is mainly involved in the bacteria/fungus interactions, while under stressful conditions this enzyme plays a role in plant/bacterium interactions. This finding is relevant from an ecological and an applicative point of view.     

盐胁迫下施肥对棉花生长及氮素利用的影响

利用海水配制不同含盐量(0、0.15%、0.3%)的土壤盆栽棉花,在可移动遮雨棚内研究了不同施肥(N、NK、NP、NPK)处理对棉花生长、氮素吸收与利用的影响.结果表明: 盐胁迫和施肥均影响棉花生物产量、棉株氮素农学利用效率、氮素生物利用效率和氮素积累量,且两者存在显著的互作效应.施肥能提高盐胁迫下棉株氮素利用效率及氮素积累量,并显著增产,不同施肥处理中以N、P、K肥料配合施用的效果最好;施肥效果受盐胁迫程度的影响,低盐胁迫(0.15%)下的施肥效果好于中度盐胁迫(0.3%).     

盐胁迫条件下提高内源乙烯对拟南芥幼苗生长和根尖活性氧水平的影响

以模式植物拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）为材料,研究了内源乙烯对幼苗耐盐性的影响。研究结果表明,在施加了浓度为100 mmol·L^-1的NaCl胁迫的基质环境中,野生型拟南芥幼苗的根长和根重都显著减小。在施加外源乙烯利后不仅能够缓解盐胁迫对幼苗根伸长生长的抑制作用,而且能够缓解盐胁迫对幼苗根增重生长的抑制作用。施加外源ACC则只能缓解盐胁迫对幼苗根增重生长的抑制作用,而不能缓解盐胁迫对根的伸长生长的抑制。此外,100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl的胁迫条件下,拟南芥幼苗根尖中ROS水平明显升高,而施加了乙烯利和ACC处理下,幼苗根尖ROS的水平在NaCl胁迫下并没有明显的升高,说明内源乙烯可以调控植物体内的ROS维持在正常的水平,使植物体免受氧化损伤,从而提高了幼苗耐盐性。     

Effects of salinity and nitrogen on cotton growth in arid environment

The influences of different N fertilization rates and soil salinity levels on the growth and nitrogen uptake of cotton was evaluated with a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that cotton growth measured as plant height was significantly affected by the soil salinity and N-salinity interaction, but not by N alone. Cotton was more sensitive to salinity during the emergence and early growth stages than the later developmental stages. At low to moderate soil salinity, the growth inhibition could be alleviated by fertilizer application. Soil salinity was a dominated factor affecting cotton’s above-ground dry mass and root development. Dry mass of seed was reduced by 22%, 52%, and 84% respectively, when the soil salinity level increased from control level of 2.4 dS m^?1 to 7.7 dS m^?1, 12.5 dS m^?1 and to 17.1 dS m^?1, respectively. N uptake increased with N fertilization at adequate rates at both low and medium soil salinities but was not influenced by over N fertilization. At higher salinities, N uptake was independent of N rates and mainly influenced by soil salinity. The uptake of K decreased with soil salinity. The concentration of Na, Cl and Ca in plant tissues increased with soil salinity with highest concentrations in the cotton leaf.     

Hormonal changes during salinity-induced leaf senescence in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Leaf senescence is one of the most limiting factors to plant productivity under salinity. Both the accumulation of specific toxic ions (e.g. Na+) and changes in leaf hormone relations are involved in the regulation of this process. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Moneymaker) were cultivated for 3 weeks under high salinity (100 mM NaCl) and leaf senescence-related parameters were studied during leaf development in relation to Na+ and K+ contents and changes in abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins, the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Na+ accumulated to a similar extent in both leaves 4 and 5 (numbering from the base of the plant) and more quickly during the third week, while concurrently K+ contents sharply decreased. However, photosystem II efficiency, measured as the F(v)/F(m) ratio, decreased from the second week of salinization in leaf 4 but only at the end of the third week in the younger leaf 5. In the prematurely senescent leaf 4, ABA content increased linearly while IAA strongly decreased with salinization time. Although zeatin (Z) levels were scarcely affected by salinity, zeatin-riboside (ZR) and the total cytokinin content (Z+ZR) progressively decreased by 50% from the imposition of the stress. ACC was the only hormonal compound that increased in leaf tissue coincident with the onset of oxidative damage and the decline in chlorophyll fluorescence, and prior to massive Na+ accumulation. Indeed, (Z+ZR) and ACC contents and their ratio (Z+ZR/ACC) were the hormonal parameters best correlated with the onset and progression of leaf senescence. The influence of different hormonal changes on salt-induced leaf senescence is discussed.     

Ammonia cometabolism and product inhibition vary considerably among species of methanotrophic bacteria

The structural gene for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase ( acdS ) from the endophytic plant growth-promoting bacterium Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN was isolated and used to construct a mutant strain B. phytofirmans YS2 ( B. phytofirmans PsJN/Δ acdS ), in which an internal segment of the acdS gene was deleted. The mutant YS2 lost ACC deaminase activity as well as the ability to promote the elongation of the roots of canola seedlings. Concomitant with the creation of this deletion mutant, a number of physiological changes were observed in the bacterium, including an increase in indole acetic acid synthesis, a decrease in the production of siderophores and an increase in the cellular level of the stationary-phase σ factor, RpoS. Introduction of the wild-type acdS gene into the mutant YS2 to construct strain B. phytofirmans YS3 ( B. phytofirmans YS2/pRK-AcdS) restored both ACC deaminase activity and plant growth-promotion activity in strain YS3. However, the complemented mutant still showed the above-mentioned physiological changes.     

膜下分区交替滴灌和施氮对棉花干物质累积与氮肥利用的影响

设置高水(260 mm)、中水(200 mm)、低水(140 mm)3水平的灌水量和高氮(270 kg·hm^-2)、中氮(180 kg·hm^-2)、低氮(90 kg·hm^-2)3水平的施氮量,进行完全组合设计,研究膜下分区交替滴灌和施氮对棉花干物质累积与氮肥利用的影响.结果表明：膜下分区交替滴灌棉花干物质量在中氮高水和高氮高水处理最高;与高氮高水处理相比,中氮高水处理干物质累积的施氮利用效率提高了34.0%～ 44.6%（平均提高34.7%）,灌水利用效率降低了6.4%～10.7%（平均降低10.2%）.对于棉花氮素累积,中氮高水处理的的施氮利用效率最高,高氮中水处理的灌水利用效率最高;与高氮中水处理相比,中氮高水处理的施氮利用效率提高了29.0%～41.7%,灌水利用效率下降了5.5%～14.0%.在棉花产量较高的水氮耦合处理中,中氮高水处理的棉花氮回收率、氮肥农学利用效率和表观利用效率均高于高氮中水和高氮高水处理,而氮肥吸收比例和氮肥生理利用效率无显著差异.表明中氮高水处理最有利于膜下分区交替滴灌水氮耦合效应的发挥.     

Detection and Characterization of ACC Deaminase in Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria

The enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase converts ACC, the precursor of the plant hormone ethylene to α-ketobutyrate and ammonium. The enzyme has been identified in few soil bacteria, and is proposed to play a key role in plant growth promotion. In this study, the isolates of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria were screened for ACC deaminase activity based on their ability to grow on ACC as a sole nitrogen source. The selected isolates showed the presence of other plant growth promoting characteristics such as IAA production, phosphate solubilization and siderophore production. The role of ACC deaminase in lowering ethylene production under cadmium stress condition was also studied by measuring in vitro ethylene evolution by wheat seedlings treated with ACC deaminase positive isolates. Nucleic acid hybridization confirmed the presence of ACC deaminase gene (acdS) in the bacterial isolates.     

Expression of an Arabidopsis vacuolar sodium/proton antiporter gene in cotton improves photosynthetic performance under salt conditions and increases fiber yield in the field

Drought and salinity are two major limiting factors in crop productivity. One way to reduce crop loss caused by drought and salinity is to increase the solute concentration in the vacuoles of plant cells. The accumulation of sodium ions inside the vacuoles provides a 2-fold advantage: (i) reducing the toxic levels of sodium in cytosol; and (ii) increasing the vacuolar osmotic potential with the concomitant generation of a more negative water potential that favors water uptake by the cell and better tissue water retention under high soil salinity. The success of this approach was demonstrated in several plants, where the overexpression of the Arabidopsis gene AtNHX1 that encodes a vacuolar sodium/proton antiporter resulted in higher plant salt tolerance. Overexpression of AtNHX1 increases sodium uptake in vacuoles, which leads to increased vacuolar solute concentration and therefore higher salt tolerance in transgenic plants. In an effort to engineer cotton for higher drought and salt tolerance, we created transgenic cotton plants expressing AtNHX1. These AtNHX1-expressing cotton plants generated more biomass and produced more fibers when grown in the presence of 200 mM NaCl in greenhouse conditions. The increased fiber yield was probably due to better photosynthetic performance and higher nitrogen assimilation rates observed in the AtNHX1-expressing cotton plants as compared with wild-type cotton plants under saline conditions. Furthermore, the field-grown AtNHX1-expressing cotton plants produced more fibers with better quality, indicating that AtNHX1 can indeed be used for improving salt stress tolerance in cotton.     

Bacterial biosynthesis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-caboxylate (ACC) deaminase,a useful trait to elongation and endophytic colonization of the roots of rice under constant flooded conditions

This study was conducted to investigate the role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase in Pseudomonas fluorescens strain REN₁ and its ability to reduce ethylene levels produced during stress, endophytically colonize and promote the elongation of the roots of rice seedlings under gnotobiotic conditions. We isolated 80 bacteria from inside roots of rice plants grown in the farmers’ fields in Guilan, Iran. All of the isolates were characterized for plant growth promoting (PGP) traits. In addition, the colonization assay of these isolates on rice seedlings was carried out to screen for competent endophytes. The best bacterial isolate, based on ACC deaminase production, was identified and used for further study. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that the endophyte was closely related to Pseudomonas fluorescens. The results of this study showed ACC deaminase containing P. fluorescens REN1 increased in vitro root elongation and endophytically colonized the root of rice seedlings significantly, as compared to control under constant flooded conditions. The trait of low amount of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (<15 μg mL⁻¹) and the high production of ACC deaminase by bacteria may be main factors in colonizing rice seedling roots compared to other PGP traits (siderophore production and phosphate solubilization) in this study. Endophytic IAA and ACC deaminase-producing bacteria may be preferential selections by rice seedlings. Therefore, it may be suggested that the utilization of ACC as a nutrient gives the isolates advantages in more endophytic colonization and increase of root length of rice seedlings.