Plant disease suppression and growth promotion by a fluorescent Pseudomonas strain

An antibiotic- and siderophore-producing Pseudomonas strain isolated from virgin soils (with forest trees) displayed in vitro antibiosis against many plant pathogenic fungi. The presence of iron had no effect on this in vitro antibiosis. Seed bacterization improved germination, shoot height, root length, fresh and dry mass, enhanced yield and chlorophyll content of leaves in the five test crop plants under field conditions. Seed bacterization also reduced the number of infected brinjal plants grown in soil infested with Rhizoctonia solani. The strain produced a yellowish green siderophore in the standard succinate medium and both siderophore and a yellow viscous antibiotic compound in King's B medium. The results confirmed that the plant growth promotion was due to siderophore production whereas the disease suppression was due to the antibiotic substance.     

河南黄河湿地放线菌多样性及植物病害生防放线菌的筛选

【目的】探究河南黄河湿地放线菌多样性,筛选对植物病原菌有拮抗活性的放线菌菌株。【方法】基于Illumina HiSeq技术的高通量测序分析了河南黄河湿地放线菌物种多样性及其分布特点;利用8种分离培养基对采集自三门峡黄河湿地、郑州黄河湿地和开封黄河湿地21份土壤样品中的放线菌进行了分离纯化,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析对分离株进行了初步的分类鉴定和系统学研究;以7种植物病原菌为靶标筛选有拮抗活性的分离株,并对活性菌株进行了聚酮合酶、非核糖体多肽合成酶和安莎类化合物等基因筛查。【结果】高通量测序结果表明,河南黄河湿地放线菌物种多样性丰富,且不同湿地区域以及同一湿地不同生境间放线菌多样性存在显著差异,放线菌优势属物种依次为Nocardioides、Streptomyces、CL500-29 marine group、Fodinicola、Mycobacterium和Micromonospora,此外,还具有大量的未知类群;通过分离培养共获得了261株纯培养菌株,分布于放线菌门中的7个目9个科9个属,包含97个可能的已知物种和8个潜在新物种,对植物病原菌有拮抗活性的放线菌86株,其中74株中至少含有一种活性代谢物质合成相关基因。【结论】河南黄河湿地放线菌物种多样性丰富,具有发掘新物种和新型植物病害生防资源的潜力。     

Beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms mediated plant growth promotion and suppression of aflatoxigenic fungal and aflatoxin contamination in groundnut seeds

The potential of root‐colonising antagonistic microbial biocontrol agents was evaluated for their ability to improve plant growth and suppress aflatoxigenic fungal and aflatoxin contamination in groundnut. By considering root colonisation of groundnut seedlings, plant growth promotion and antagonism against aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus as preliminary criteria, eight rhizobacteria and nine Trichoderma spp. were selected and characterised for their beneficial traits. These strains gave varying results for IAA production, phosphate solubilisation, ACC deaminase, chitinase and siderophore production. Under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, these strains significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed seed‐borne and rhizospheric population of A. flavus and improved seed quality variables. However, cdELISA results revealed that none of the biocontrol strains were effective in reducing aflatoxin level in seed. Based on the overall performance, Pseudomonas fluorescens 2bpf, Bacillus sp. Bsp‐3/aM and Trichoderma atroviride UMDBT‐Dha.Tat8 were used for field trials in the form of talcum powder formulations. Under field conditions, biocontrol agents improved seedling emergence, plant biomass and pod yield. Seeds harvested from plots treated with biocontrol agents showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in A. flavus infection and aflatoxin production after 6 months' storage. Use of microbial strains with multiple beneficial traits is advantageous in bioformulation development. Hence, in future, these formulations will play a major role as biofertilisers and biopesticides, which can reduce the usage of agrochemicals up to greater extents in groundnut production.     

Mechanism of plant growth promotion by rhizobacteria

Plant growth results from interaction of roots and shoots with the environment. The environment for roots is the soil or planting medium which provide structural support as well as water and nutrients to the plant. Roots also support the growth and functions of a complex of microorganisms that can have a profound effect on the growth anti survival of plants. These microorganisms constitute rhizosphere microflora and can be categorized as deleterious, beneficial, or neutral with respect to root/plant health. Beneficial interactions between roots and microbes do occur in rhizosphere and can be enhanced. Increased plant growth and crop yield can be obtained upon inoculating seeds or roots with certain specific root-colonizing bacteria- 'plant growth promoting rhizobacteria'. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which plant growth promoting rhizobacteria may stimulate plant growth.     

Effect of Trichoderma on plant growth: A balance between inhibition and growth promotion

The effect of lettuce (Latuca sativa L.) germination and growth in nonsterilized potting compost of 0.1% and 1.0% w/w incorporation of fermenter biomass inocula of six strains of Trichoderma was investigated. Except for strains WT and T35 at 0.1 % w/w, all inocula inhibited germination. Biomass of strains WT, T35, 20, and 47 at 1.0% promoted shoot fresh weight, whereas strains TH1 and 8MF2 were inhibitory. In contrast, when biomass of strains WT, TH1, and 8MF2 was autoclaved and incorporated at 1%, shoot fresh weight was promoted, but the biomass of T35 was inhibitory. None of the strains incorporated at 0.1 % w/w increased shoot fresh weight, and autoclaved biomass of TH1, T35, and 20 incorporated at 0.1% w/w resulted in lower shoot fresh weights in comparison with uninoculated controls. The shoot dry weight of lettuce seedlings could be enhanced by germinating seeds in uninoculated compost and after five days' growth transferring them into WT-inoculated compost. Inoculum of strain TH1 when applied using this method was very inhibitory. With WT the degree of increase in shoot fresh weight and germination rate declined as the fermentation time to produce inocula was increased. Offprint requests to: J.M. Lynch.     

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and their role in plant growth promotion

The use of phosphate solubilizing bacteria as inoculants simultaneously increases P uptake by the plant and crop yield. Strains from the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Rhizobium are among the most powerful phosphate solubilizers. The principal mechanism for mineral phosphate solubilization is the production of organic acids, and acid phosphatases play a major role in the mineralization of organic phosphorous in soil. Several phosphatase-encoding genes have been cloned and characterized and a few genes involved in mineral phosphate solubilization have been isolated. Therefore, genetic manipulation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria to improve their ability to improve plant growth may include cloning genes involved in both mineral and organic phosphate solubilization, followed by their expression in selected rhizobacterial strains. Chromosomal insertion of these genes under appropriate promoters is an interesting approach.     

Growth promotion and disease suppression ability of Pseudomonas fluorescens in acid lime

Biochemical analysis was carried out for 10 isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens. All isolates were found positive for siderophore and indole acetic acid production (except Pf IX) and phosphate solubilisation (except Pf VII). Biochemically efficient strains (Pf I, Pf IV, Pf VII and Pf IX) were selected for management of root rot, collar rot and damping off caused by Phytophthora parasitica, Pythium sp. and Fusarium solani. The activity of defence-related enzymes like esterase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase was also detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Consistent appearance of esterase isozyme bands was visualised, in the range of 0.193–0.349. The highest Rm value 0.349 was observed on Pf IV. Whereas, for peroxidase, Rm value ranged between 0.302 and 0.373 and for polyphenol oxidase, it was in the range of 0.211–0.800. P. fluorescens Pf IV was found significantly effective to arrest the per cent mycelial growth of P. parasitica (55.20%), Pythium sp. (65.33%) and F. solani (64.67%). Among bioagents, seed treatment and soil drenching with Pf IV at 15 and 30 days after sowing were found effective to reduce per cent disease incidence (30.55%) at 120 days after emergence. Seed treatment with copper oxychloride at 3g/kg seed and metalaxyl at 2 g/kg seed were also found effective.     

Molecular basis of plant growth promotion and biocontrol by rhizobacteria.

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) are used as inoculants for biofertilization, phytostimulation and biocontrol. The interactions of PGPRs with their biotic environment, for example with plants and microorganisms, are often complex. Substantial advances in elucidating the genetic basis of the beneficial effects of PGPRs on plants have been made, some from whole-genome sequencing projects. This progress will lead to a more efficient use of these strains and possibly to their improvement by genetic modification.     

Evaluation of bacteria isolated from rice for plant growth promotion and biological control of seedling disease of rice.

Of 102 rhizoplane and endophytic bacteria isolated from rice roots and stems in California, 37% significantly (P < or = 0.05) inhibited the growth in vitro of two pathogens, Achlya klebsiana and Pythium spinosum, causing seedling disease of rice. Four endophytic strains were highly effective against seedling disease in growth pouch assays, and these were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens (S3), Pseudomonas tolaasii (S20), Pseudomonas veronii (S21), and Sphingomonas trueperi (S12) by sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA genes. Strains S12, S20, and S21 contained the nitrogen fixation gene, nifD, but only S12 was able to reduce acetylene in pure culture. The four strains significantly enhanced plant growth in the absence of pathogens, as evidenced by increases in plant height and dry weight of inoculated rice seedlings relative to noninoculated rice. Three bacterial strains (S3, S20, and S21) were evaluated in pot bioassays and reduced disease incidence by 50%-73%. Strain S3 was as effective at suppressing disease at the lowest inoculum density (106 CFU/mL) as at higher density (10(8) CFU/mL or undiluted suspension). This study indicates that selected endophytic bacterial strains have potential for control of seedling disease of rice and for plant growth promotion.     

Phenotypic variation in Acidovorax radicisN35 influences plant growth promotion

Acidovorax radicis N35, isolated from surface-sterilized wheat roots (Triticum aestivum), showed irreversible phenotypic variation in nutrient broth, resulting in a differing colony morphology. In addition to the wild-type form (rough colony type), a phenotypic variant form (smooth colony type) appeared at a frequency of 3.2?×?10(-3) per cell per generation on NB agar plates. In contrast to the N35 wild type, the variant N35v showed almost no cell aggregation and had lost its flagella and swarming ability. After inoculation, only the wild-type N35 significantly promoted the growth of soil-grown barley plants. After co-inoculation of axenically grown barley seedlings with differentially fluorescently labeled N35 and N35v cells, decreased competitive endophytic root colonization in the phenotypic variant N35v was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. In addition, 454 pyrosequencing of both phenotypes revealed almost identical genomic sequences. The only stable difference noted in the sequence of the phenotype variant N35v was a 16-nucleotide deletion identified in a gene encoding the mismatch repair protein MutL. The deletion resulted in a frameshift that revealed a new stop codon resulting in a truncated MutL protein missing a functional MutL C-terminal domain. The mutation was consistent in all investigated phenotype variant cultures and might be responsible for the observed phenotypic variation in A.?radicis N35.     

Tobacco growth enhancement and blue mold disease protection by rhizobacteria: Relationship between plant growth promotion and systemic disease protection by PGPR strain 90-166

Plant and Soil - The effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on plant growth and systemic protection against blue mold disease of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum&;nbsp;L.), caused by...     

番茄青枯病拮抗菌的定向筛选及其抗病促生机制研究

[目的] 从抑病型番茄根际土壤中筛选青枯病的高效拮抗促生菌,阐明其防病促生机制。[方法] 以番茄青枯雷尔氏菌（Ralstonia solanacearum）为靶病原菌,采用平板抑菌圈法,筛选拮抗菌;通过BOX-PCR指纹图谱鉴定菌株多样性,以平板透明圈法评价其产酶活性,并针对抑菌能力强、产酶种类多的拮抗菌开展16S rRNA基因系统发育分析;通过温室试验评价拮抗菌的防病促生能力,并在此基础上通过实时荧光定量PCR研究生防细菌对番茄青枯病的防病促生机制。[结果] 从番茄根际土壤分离获得29株细菌,其中15株对青枯菌具有拮抗功能,进一步通过BOX-PCR指纹图谱、酶活分析获得4株具有潜在防治番茄青枯病、促进生长的功能菌（B2、B5、B20、B23）,通过16S rRNA系统发育分析鉴定B2拮抗菌为解淀粉芽孢杆菌（Bacillus amyloliquefaciens）,B5和B20拮抗菌为枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）,B23拮抗菌为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌（Bacillus velezensis）;温室试验表明,B2、B5、B20、B23拮抗菌的抑病效果分别为35.59%、8.47%、32.20%、96.61%,并且均能显著增加番茄生物量和生理性状,如地上部鲜重、总叶绿素含量、地下部根尖数等。B2、B5、B23拮抗菌显著促进番茄株高和根长,B2、B20、B23拮抗菌显著增加茎粗;而B23拮抗菌显著增加根系分叉数;实时荧光定量分析表明,B2、B20、B23拮抗菌株可促进抗病相关功能基因PR1α、POD1的表达量,B2、B5、B23拮抗菌促进吲哚乙酸（IAA）信号通路应答关键基因ctd1的表达量,B2、B5、B20、B23拮抗菌均降低乙烯（ETH）信号通路应答关键基因ERF2的表达量。[结论] 本研究分离筛选获得4株对番茄青枯病具有显著防治效果以及促进番茄生长的PGPR菌株,可为定向筛选植物促生防病菌提供理论依据。     

Two bacterial entophytes eliciting both plant growth promotion and plant defense on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have the potential to be used as microbial inoculants to reduce disease incidence and severity and to increase crop yield. Some of the PGPR have been reported to be able to enter plant tissues and establish endophytic populations. Here, we demonstrated an approach to screen bacterial endophytes that have the capacity to promote the growth of pepper seedlings and protect pepper plants against a bacterial pathogen. Initially, out of 150 bacterial isolates collected from healthy stems of peppers cultivated in the Chungcheong and Gyeongsang provinces of Korea, 23 putative endophytic isolates that were considered to be predominating and representative of each pepper sample were selected. By phenotypic characterization and partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the isolates were identified as species of Ochrobacterium, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Janthinobacterium, Ralstonia, Arthrobacter, Clavibacter, Sporosarcina, Acidovorax, and Brevundimonas. Among them, two isolates, PS4 and PS27, were selected because they showed consistent colonizing capacity in pepper stems at the levels of 10(6)-10(7) CFU/g tissue, and were found to be most closely related to Pseudomonas rhodesiae and Pantoea ananatis, respectively, by additional analyses of their entire 16S rDNA sequences. Drenching application of the two strains on the pepper seedlings promoted significant growth of peppers, enhancing their root fresh weight by 73.9% and 41.5%, respectively. The two strains also elicited induced systemic resistance of plants against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria.