The Effect of Vapour Pressure Deficit on Carbon Isotope Discrimination in the Desert Shrub Larrea tridentata(Creosote Bush)

Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) seedlings were subjected tothree regimens of atmospheric humidity in a growth chamber experiment.Relative humidity was varied to achieve daytime vapour pressuredeficits (VPD) during growth of 29, 48 and 77 kPa. Photosyntheticgas exchange, carbon isotope composition and biomass productionwere measured after 8–10 weeks of treatment. Whereas stomatalconductance (g) declined linearly with increasing ambient VPD,CO₂ assimilation rate (A) was not measurably affected by changesin ambient VPD. This resulted in a decrease in intrinsic wateruse efficiency (ratio of CO₂ assimilation to stomatal conductance;A/_g) with increasing VPD. Leaf carbon isotope discrimination(A) was negatively correlated (r² = 088) with A/g ratios. Carbonisotope discrimination also correlated positively with ratiosof internal (C₁) to ambient (c_a) CO₂ levels determined by gasexchange measurements (c₁/c). The ratio of c₁ to c_a was lowerat higher VPD levels. Leaf biomass decreased with increasingambient VPD and correlated positively with. Root to leaf biomassratio increased at higher VPD levels and correlated negativelywith. Key words: Larrea tridentata, vapour pressure deficit, carbon isotope discrimination, intrinsic water-use efficiency     

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Allow Reduced Application Rates of Chemical Fertilizers

The search for microorganisms that improve soil fertility and enhance plant nutrition has continued to attract attention due to the increasing cost of fertilizers and some of their negative environmental impacts. The objectives of this greenhouse study with tomato were to determine (1) if reduced rates of inorganic fertilizer coupled with microbial inoculants will produce plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake levels equivalent to those with full rates of the fertilizer and (2) the minimum level to which fertilizer could be reduced when inoculants were used. The microbial inoculants used in the study were a mixture of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IN937a and Bacillus pumilus T4, a formulated PGPR product, and the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF), Glomus intraradices. Results showed that supplementing 75% of the recommended fertilizer rate with inoculants produced plant growth, yield, and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) uptake that were statistically equivalent to the full fertilizer rate without inoculants. When inoculants were used with rates of fertilizer below 75% of the recommended rate, the beneficial effects were usually not consistent; however, inoculation with the mixture of PGPR and AMF at 70% fertility consistently produced the same yield as the full fertility rate without inoculants. Without inoculants, use of fertilizer rates lower than the recommended resulted in significantly less plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake or inconsistent impacts. The results suggest that PGPR-based inoculants can be used and should be further evaluated as components of integrated nutrient management strategies.     

Growth Enhancement of Chickpea in Saline Soils Using Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria

Bacterial isolates with the ability to tolerate salinity and plant growth-promoting features were isolated from the saline areas of Gujarat, India, that is, Bhavnagar and Khambat. A total of 176 strains of rhizobacteria were isolated out of which 62 bacterial strains were able to tolerate 1 M NaCl. These were then further studied for their potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria characteristics like phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and IAA production. Twenty-eight isolates of the 62 strains showed good tricalcium phosphate solubilization in solid medium in the range of 9–22 mm and 15 isolates showed good phosphate solubilization in liquid medium in the range of 9–45 μg/ml. Siderophore production was checked in all 15 isolates, and 13 were screened out that produced the hydroxamate type of siderophore in the range of 11–50 mM. Among the 13 isolates, 10 were able to produce indole acetic acid in the range of 10–26 μg/ml after 72 h of incubation. Pot trials were carried out on chickpea under 300 mM NaCl stress using the best five isolates. Plants inoculated with MSC1 or MSC4 isolates showed an increase in the parameters that evaluate plant growth when compared to uninoculated controls. Strains MSC1 and MSC4 were identified as Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligens, respectively, according to sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene.     

Isolation and Characterization of ACC Deaminase Gene from Two Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria

Lowering of plant ethylene by deamination of its immediate precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) is a key trait found in many rhizobacteria. We isolated and screened bacteria from the rhizosphere of wheat for their ACC-degrading ability. The ACC deaminase gene (acdS) isolated from two bacterial isolates through PCR amplification was cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence alignment of these genes with previously reported genes of Pseudomonas sp. strain ACP and Enterobacter cloacae strain UW4 showed variation in their sequences. In the phylogenetic analysis, distinctness of these two genes was observed as a separate cluster. 16S rDNA sequencing of two isolates identified them to be Achromobacter sp. and Pseudomonas stutzeri.     

Differential Effects of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Maize Growth and Cadmium Uptake

Maize is a plant known for food, feed, and energy value, but being a greater biomass, it may also be utilized to extract pollutants from soil. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may act as biofertilizer to improve plant health and indirectly may enhance metal extraction. This study focuses on five bacterial strains isolated from the vegetable (Bitter gourd) rhizosphere irrigated with industrial effluent and characterized for various plant growth-promoting activities. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, bacterial strains belonging to the genera, Bacillus (CIK-517, CIK-519), Klebsiella (CIK-518), Leifsonia (CIK-521), and Enterobacter (CIK-521R), were tested for their ability to promote maize growth in axenic conditions. Results showed negative and positive regulation of maize growth by the exogenous application of Cd and PGPR, respectively. Seed germination assays revealed significant reduction in relative seedling growth of maize cultivars upon Cd exposure (0–80 mg Cd L^?1). The tested strains showed tolerance to Cd (1.78–4.45 mmol L^?1) and were positive for catalase, oxidase, phosphate solubilization, exopolysaccharide (EPS), and auxin production, whereas CIK-518, CIK-519, and CIK-521R were negative for EPS, phosphate solubilization, and oxidase activities, respectively. Bacterial strains significantly increased shoot/root growth and their dry biomass in normal and Cd-contaminated soil as compared to their respective controls. None of the strains showed significant effects on relative water content or membrane permeability; however, Cd uptake significantly increased in plant tissues upon bacterial inoculation. Bacterial strains CIK-518 and CIK-521R are effective colonizers and thus can be potential inoculants to promote maize growth and Cd extraction/stabilization in Cd-contaminated soil.     

Genetic diversity in Chihuahuan Desert populations of creosotebush (Zygophyllaceae: Larrea tridentata)

We examined isozyme variation in the dominant Chihuahuan Desert shrub, Larrea tridentata (creosotebush), to determine the genetic variation within and among populations, the biogeographic relationships of populations, and the potential inbreeding in the species. We surveyed 17 populations consisting of 20 to 50 individuals per population along a 1600-km north-south transect across the Chihuahuan Desert. The southernmost population was near Villa Hidalgo, Mexico, and the northernmost near Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico. All 12 isozyme loci examined were polymorphic (H(t) = 0.416), with up to nine alleles per locus. Despite high levels of variation, we detected moderate inbreeding in L. tridentata populations. Most variation was found within rather than among populations (G(ST) = 0.118). Furthermore, recently established populations in the northern limits of the Chihuahuan Desert did not show decreased levels of genetic variation (H(o) = 0.336). A significant correlation was found between pairwise genetic and geographic distances (r = 0.305). Larrea tridentata showed and continues to show a massive range expansion into the arid and semi-arid regions of the American Southwest, but as shown by the high genetic variation, this expansion took place as a wave, rather than a series of founder events.     

Isozymes in Larrea divaricata and Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae): A study of two amphitropical vicariants and autopolyploidy

Electrophoretic variants for seven isozyme systems – probably encoded by 18 structural gene loci – in diploid populations of Larrea divaricata and diploid and tetraploid populations of its North American vicariant derivative L. tridentata were assayed by polyacrilamide and starch gel electrophoresis. High molecular similarity of diploid and tetraploid cytotypes of L. tridentata supports the hypothesis of interracial autopolyploidy. The absence of fixed heterozygosity and additive profiles indicates a low level of divergence between the parental diploids and the tetraploids. The phenogram based on the I coefficient showed the similarities between the populations of diploid L. divaricata and also between the diploid populations of L. tridentata. Both groups of diploid populations were more distantly connected to tetraploid L. tridentata. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Growth and Yield Response of Upland Rice to Application of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - This study evaluated the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates in enhancing upland rice growth and yield. Bacteria were isolated,...     

Alleviation of Mercury Toxicity in Wheat by the Interaction of Mercury-Tolerant Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils has increased along with industrialization. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal and a widespread pollutant in the ecosystem. Mercury-tolerant and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) HG 1, HG 2, and HG 3 were isolated from the rhizosphere of plants growing in a mercury-contaminated site. These isolates were able to grow in the presence of mercury ranging from 10 to 200 µM in minimal medium and 25 to 500 µM in LB medium. The strains were characterized by morphological, biochemical, and plant growth-promoting traits. In the present study, these PGPR strains were analyzed for their involvement in metal stress tolerance in Triticum aestivum (wheat). Two bacterial strains, namely, Enterobacter ludwigii (HG 2) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (HG 3), showed better growth promotion of T. aestivum seedlings under metal stress. Different growth parameters like, water content and biochemical properties were analyzed in the PGPR-inoculated wheat plants under 75 µM HgCl₂. Shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and relative water content (RWC) were significantly higher in inoculated plants compared to uninoculated plants under stress condition. Proline content, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde content (shoots and roots) were significantly lower in inoculated plants with respect to uninoculated plants under mercury stress. Therefore, it could be assumed that all these parameters collectively improve plant growth under mercury stress conditions in the presence of PGPR. Hence, these PGPRs can serve as promising candidates for increasing plant growth and also have immense potential for bioremediation of mercury-contaminated soils.     

AMF和PGPR对生姜青枯病的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)与植物根围促生细菌(Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria,PGPR)占据相近的生态位,对植物病原物及其所致病害的发生与发展具有重要影响。本试验旨在于温室盆栽条件下探索AMF摩西管柄囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae,Fm)、根内球囊霉(Glomus intraradices,Gi)和地表球囊霉(Glomus versiforme,Gv)与PGPR假单胞菌(Pseudomonus sp.)S1-10菌株和S3-11菌株的相互作用及其对生姜(Zingiber officinale)青枯病(Ralstonia solanacearum,RS1)的影响。试验结果表明Gv显著增加假单胞菌S3-11菌株在生姜根围的定殖数量(P0.05),除生姜幼苗期外Fm则能促进S3-11菌株和S1-10菌株在根围内的定殖。PGPR S1-10和S3-11显著促进发棵期和块茎膨大期生姜AMF的侵染;发棵期S1-10显著提高了Gi的侵染率,但显著降低了Gv的侵染率(P0.05);块茎膨大期S3-11对Gv侵染(64%)的促进作用最大。AMF或/和PGPR(除S1-10外)接种处理均不同程度地促进了生姜的生长,其中Gv+S3-11组合处理的生姜生长量最大,其次为Fm+S3-11组合。无论是单接种还是双接种,供试PGPR和AMF均显著提高叶片防御性酶超氧物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、苯丙氨酸(PAL)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,降低丙二醛(MDA)含量和生姜青枯病的病情指数,其中,以Gv+S3-11组合处理的病情指数最低(25.5),且防效最高(71%)。研究结果表明AMF地表球囊霉与PGPR假单胞菌S3-11菌株组合能够相互促进、协同抑制生姜青枯病菌、诱导生姜抗病性、促进生姜生和增加产量,是适宜生姜生长的优良AMF+PGPR组合。     

Isolation and Characterization of Three Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria for Growth Enhancement of Rice Seedling

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Biofertilizers are currently considered the only alternative of chemical fertilizers. In addition, improving the effect of biofertilizers can make chemical...     

Effect of Wild-Type and Mutant Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on the Rooting of Mung Bean Cuttings

Mung bean cuttings were dipped in solutions of wild type and mutant forms of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas putida GR12-2 and then incubated for several days until roots formed. The bacteria P. putida GR12-2 and P. putida GR12-2/aux1 mutant do not produce detectable levels of the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, whereas P. putida GR12-2/acd36 is an ACC deaminase minus mutant. All bacteria produce the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and P. putida GR12-2/aux1 overproduces it. Treatment of cuttings with the above-mentioned bacteria affected the rates of ethylene production in the cuttings in a way that can be explained by the combined effects of the activity of ACC deaminase localized in the bacteria and bacterial produced IAA. P. putida GR12-2 and P. putida GR12-2/acd36-treated cuttings had a significantly higher number of roots compared with cuttings rooted in water. In addition, the wild type influenced the development of longer roots. P. putida GR12-2/aux1 stimulated the highest rates of ethylene production but did not influence the number of roots. These results are consistent with the notion that ethylene is involved in the initiation and elongation of adventitious roots in mung bean cuttings. Received October 21, 1998; accepted January 3, 1999     

The vulnerability to freezing-induced xylem cavitation of Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae) in the Chihuahuan desert

The temperature dependence of freezing-induced xylem cavitation was studied in a Chihuahuan desert population of Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae). Field measurements of wood temperature and xylem embolism were combined with anatomical studies and laboratory measurements of embolism in stem and root samples frozen under controlled conditions. Our laboratory experiments corroborated the previously observed relationship between minimum freezing temperature and embolism. The area of the low-temperature exotherms produced during the freezing treatments was correlated with the resulting embolism, suggesting that the freezing of water inside parenchyma cells is associated with the occurrence of xylem embolism. In the laboratory experiments, embolism in stems increased only at temperatures below -14°C. Although this meant that the studied population was more resistant to freezing-induced xylem embolism than a previously studied population from the Sonoran desert, the impact of freezing was nevertheless greater because of much lower environmental temperatures. This result suggests that dieback associated with periodic extreme freezes may contribute to limiting the present distribution of L. tridentata in central New Mexico. Although laboratory experiments showed that root xylem embolism increased after freezing to less negative minimum temperatures than stems (significant effects at T = -7°C), root embolism in the field was lower than shoot embolism in accordance with measured soil temperatures throughout the study.     

Halotolerant Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Induce Salinity Tolerance in Wheat by Enhancing the Expression of SOS Genes

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Soil salinity is one of the main yield-limiting factors in various crops. Under different environmental stresses, many rhizobacteria have demonstrated...     

Effect of Compost on Rhizosphere Microflora of the Tomato and on the Incidence of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria

Four commercial composts were added to soil to study their effect on plant growth, total rhizosphere microflora, and incidence of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the rhizosphere of tomato plants. Three of the compost treatments significantly improved plant growth, while one compost treatment significantly depressed it. Compost amendments caused only small variations in the total numbers of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in the rhizosphere of tomato plants. A total of 709 bacteria were isolated from the four compost treatments and the soil control to determine the percentage of PGPR in each treatment. The PGPR tests measured antagonism to soilborne root pathogens, production of indoleacetic acid, cyanide, and siderophores, phosphate solubilization, and intrinsic resistance to antibiotics. Our results show that the addition of some composts to soil increased the incidence in the tomato rhizosphere of bacteria exhibiting antagonism towards Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, Pythium ultimum, and Rhizoctonia solani. The antagonistic effects observed were associated with marked increases in the percentage of siderophore producers. No significant differences were observed in the percentage of cyanogens, whereas the percentages of phosphate solubilizers and indoleacetic acid producers were affected, respectively, by one and two compost treatments. Intrinsic resistance to antibiotics was only marginally different among the rhizobacterial populations. Our results suggest that compost may stimulate the proliferation of antagonists in the rhizosphere and confirm previous reports indicating that the use of composts in container media has the potential to protect plants from soilborne root pathogens.     

Characterization of Rhizobacteria Associated with Weed Seedlings

Rhizobacteria were isolated from seedlings of seven economically important weeds and characterized for potential phytopathogenicity, effects on seedling growth, and antibiosis to assess the possibility of developing deleterious rhizobacteria as biological control agents. The abundance and composition of rhizobacteria varied among the different weed species. For example, fluorescent pseudomonads represented from 11 to 42% of the total rhizobacterial populations from jimsonweed and lambsquarters, respectively. Other bacteria frequently isolated were nonfluorescent pseudomonads, Erwinia herbicola, Alcaligenes spp., and Flavobacterium spp. Only 18% of all isolates were potentially phytopathogenic, based on an Escherichia coli indicator bioassay. However, the proportion of isolates that inhibited growth in seedling assays ranged from 35 to 65% depending on the weed host. Antibiosis was most prevalent among isolates of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp., the activity of which was due to siderophore production in over 75% of these isolates. Overall, rhizobacterial isolates exhibited a complex array of properties that were inconsistent with accepted definitions for plant growth-promoting and deleterious rhizobacteria. It is suggested that for development of effective biological control agents for weed control, deleterious rhizobacteria must be screened directly on host seedlings and must possess several properties including high colonizing ability, specific phytotoxin production, and resistance or tolerance to antibiotics produced by other rhizosphere microorganisms, and they must either synthesize or utilize other bacterial siderophores.