两株PGPR菌株的花生定殖及对根际细菌群落结构的影响北大核心CSCD

为探讨2株根际促生菌耐酪氨酸束村氏菌P9和吡咯伯克霍尔德氏菌P10对花生的促生机制。利用GFP及利福平对2个菌株进行标记、结合扫描电镜观察,追踪了2株PGPR菌株在花生组织中的定殖动态;并通过16S rRNA全长测序对菌株接种花生根际土壤的细菌多样性进行分析。结果表明,利福平标记的P9和P10菌株具有良好的遗传稳定性,其生长和促生特性与原始菌株基本一致。GFP标记菌株可在花生的根尖及其分生区定殖;利福平标记菌株可稳定定殖在土壤及花生的根、茎部,且接菌30 d后定殖数仍保持在10CFU/g数量级。与未接菌植株根际土壤相比,P9、P10及混合菌株接种组的细菌群落相似性更高;接菌组的Flavihumibacter、unidentified_Rhizobiaceae的相对丰度显著增加,芽孢杆菌属、链霉菌属等的丰度较CK有不同程度增加,溶杆菌属、无色杆菌属及假黄单胞菌属等的丰度降低。2株PGPR菌株均可通过直接定殖在植株组织中、间接影响土壤细菌群落结构而发挥对花生的促生作用,混合菌株接种效果更优。研究结果明析了2株促生菌的促生机制,并为菌株的应用提供了科学依据。     

缓解花生连作障碍的根际促生菌分离及功能鉴定

[目的] 长期连作障碍严重降低花生生产的产量及品质,根际促生菌可有效降解土壤中自毒化感物质、抑制植物病原菌生长及促进植物生长,从而有效缓解连作障碍问题。筛选优化具有缓解花生连作障碍能力的多功能根际益生微生物,验证其益生作用能力,为根际促生菌株在连作障碍中的应用提供理论依据及技术支持。[方法] 采集连作12年地块花生根际土壤,利用以酚酸为唯一碳源的筛选培养基获得具有酚酸自毒化感物质降解及利用能力的根际促生菌,通过16S rRNA基因测序进行系统发育分析,确定根际促生菌菌株的分类地位,并验证其对植物病原菌生长抑制能力及解磷、解钾、产植物激素吲哚乙酸能力。[结果] 从连作12年的花生发病土壤中获得7株可高效降解酚酸类自毒物质且降解底物多样的根际微生物菌株,经16S rRNA测序比对分别为克雷伯氏菌B02 （Klebsiella sp.B02）、克雷伯氏菌B07 （Klebsiella sp.B07）、克雷伯氏菌B15 （Klebsiella sp.B15）、芽孢杆菌B28 （Bacillus sp.B28）、不动杆菌P09 （Acinetobacter sp.P09）、布鲁氏杆菌VA05 （Brucella sp.VA05）、芽孢杆菌CA04 （Bacillus sp.CA04）。促生实验表明,7株高效降解菌株均可以合成吲哚乙酸,3株具有固氮能力,4株菌具有解有机磷及无机磷的能力,2株菌具有解钾的能力。拮抗实验表明,2株菌可以抑制多种植物病原菌的生长,均为芽孢杆菌属。选取Bacillus sp.B28初步验证对花生种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,结果表明根际促生菌可显著缓解酚酸对花生种子发芽的抑制,并明显促进花生幼苗的生长。[结论] 获得多株具有降解酚酸类自毒化感物质、抑制植物病原菌生长及促进植物生长的多功能花生根际促生菌,更好地为根际促生菌在连作障碍治理中的有效应用提供菌株及技术支持。     

花生根际促生复合菌剂对连作花生生理生化指标和根际细菌群落的影响

【目的】利用多功能根际促生菌剂促进花生生长,缓解连作障碍对花生的生长抑制。【方法】从10年连作花生根际土中筛选根际微生物,测定其促生及拮抗能力,并经16S rRNA基因测序确定菌株分类。选取3株功能互补且相互之间无生长抑制的根际促生菌制备微生物复合菌剂,利用发芽及盆栽试验验证微生物复合菌剂的促生效应。利用高通量测序技术对花生根际土壤细菌的16S rRNA基因的V3-V4区进行测序分析。【结果】从连作花生根际中共筛选获得37株具有促生及抑制植物病原菌生长能力的根际促生菌,选取3株制备微生物复合菌剂。与空白对照相比,复合菌剂显著提升花生发芽率13.22%;与单独使用根际促生菌相比,复合菌剂显著提升花生发芽率分别为6.99%、7.51%、8.87%。施用复合菌剂对花生根系形态、根瘤数量、叶绿素含量、植株光合参数和植株抗氧化酶活均有显著促进作用,花生根系总长、根尖数、主根直径、根系体积和根系活力分别增加了43.50%、49.31%、15.11%、16.92%和112.16%;花生苗期、花针期叶片叶绿素含量和光合作用均得到显著的提高;花生根瘤数量每株增加34个。施用复合菌剂后对花生的根际细菌多样性影响并不显著,在门水平上的优势菌门变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteriota)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)占70%以上。在属水平上新鞘氨醇菌属(Novosphingobium)和鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)是优势菌属。【结论】本研究研制的花生根际促生复合菌剂可有效促进花生种子发芽、花生根系生长、提高叶片叶绿素含量以及促进植物光合作用,为缓解花生连作障碍及丰产增收提供有效的技术支持。     

两株芽孢杆菌对花生幼苗生长及其根际土壤微生物群落结构的影响

【背景】贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Bacillus velezensis)和坚强芽孢杆菌(Bacillus firmus)对花生的促生作用及促生机制研究尚未见报道。【目的】从微生物群落结构和土壤氮磷钾有效养分两个方面综合解析两株芽孢杆菌(贝莱斯芽孢杆菌HP9和坚强芽孢杆菌HP10)对花生的促生机制。【方法】以两株芽孢杆菌为研究对象,通过单独灌根或混合灌根盆栽花生,测定其对花生生长及根际土壤氮磷钾有效养分的影响;利用高通量测序技术分析灌根组与对照组花生根际土壤的细菌和真菌群落结构及多样性。【结果】与对照组相比,3个灌根处理组均明显促进了花生幼苗茎部的伸长及鲜重的增加,根际土壤碱解氮含量显著提高,有效磷和速效钾含量有不同程度增加。芽孢杆菌对花生根际土壤的微生物多样性无显著影响,但影响了细菌和真菌的群落结构组成。灌根处理组根际土壤的拟杆菌门及Mortierellomycota等相对丰度显著增加,在属水平上,农杆菌属、节杆菌属、芽孢杆菌属、伯克霍尔德氏菌属、黄杆菌属、Pedobacter、极地单胞菌属、假单胞菌属、鞘脂单胞菌属、寡养单胞菌属等属的相对丰度明显提高,而且无色杆菌属、短波单胞菌属、金黄色杆菌属、苍白杆菌属、鞘氨醇杆菌属和鞘氨醇盒菌属等6个细菌属仅见于3个灌根处理组中。主成分分析结果显示,与对照相比,3个灌根处理组之间的根际土壤微生物群落结构具有更高的相似性。【结论】贝莱斯芽孢杆菌HP9和坚强芽孢杆菌HP10菌株可以影响根际土壤的微生物群落结构组成,提高根际土壤功能微生物的相对丰度,从而改善土壤肥力,促进花生幼苗生长。     

2株草螺菌的鉴定及其对煤矸石胁迫下香根草的促生作用

【背景】植物-微生物联合修复技术在减轻环境胁迫作用、增强植物抗性、改善矿区景观等方面发挥重要作用,其中根际促生菌可与植物相互作用,促进植物生长,增强植物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。【目的】鉴定铜尾矿中分离得到的2株根际细菌,研究其对植物生长的促生特性,测定2株菌的接种对于煤矸石胁迫下香根草的影响。【方法】对铜尾矿中分离得到的2株菌进行16S rRNA基因序列鉴定和扫描电子显微镜观察,对菌株的促生特性进行测定,并将其分别接种于覆土5 cm的煤矸石和掺土10%的煤矸石中生长的香根草根际,测定2个月后香根草的理化指标和生理学指标。【结果】菌株P5-11和P5-19经鉴定均为草螺菌(Herbaspirillum),2株菌均具有固氮、溶磷、产吲哚乙酸(Indole-3-Acetic Acid,IAA)和产铁载体的特性,其中P5-19的产吲哚乙酸能力约为P5-11的2倍,具有较好的促生能力;2株菌均能提高香根草的株高、生物量、氮积累量和抗氧化酶活性,并降低丙二醛积累量。【结论】2株草螺菌均具有良好的促生特性,能够促进煤矸石胁迫下香根草的生长发育,这不仅为促生菌肥的研制提供了优良菌种,也为香根草在矿区生态恢复中的应用提供了参考价值。     

溶磷细菌和丛枝菌根真菌接种对南方红豆杉生长及根际微生物和土壤酶活性的影响

以南方红豆杉实生苗为材料,采用盆栽实验探讨了高效溶磷细菌草木樨中华根瘤菌(Sinorhizobium meliloti)CHW10B与丛枝菌根真菌缩球囊霉(Glomus constrictum)单独和双接种条件下,其植株生长、根际土壤可培养微生物数量、土壤酶活和土壤微生物功能多样性变化,在微生态水平揭示接种对南方红豆杉生长的影响及其机制。结果表明:(1)各接种处理对南方红豆杉幼苗均有促生长作用,接种处理苗高、地径和生物量均较对照显著增加,并以双接种促进效果最好。(2)各接种处理提高了南方红豆杉根际土壤可培养细菌、真菌和放线菌含量,增加了土壤微生物碳源利用率,改变了土壤中物种的丰富度和均一度,增加了土壤中的生物多样性。(3)各接种处理促进了南方红豆杉根际重要土壤酶(酸性磷酸酶、脱氢酶、转化酶)活力的增加,且双接种的促进作用最为明显。可见,溶磷细菌(草木樨中华根瘤菌CHW10B)和丛枝菌根真菌(缩球囊霉)具有协同作用,两者同时接种可显著提高南方红豆杉根际土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活力,提高土壤微生物碳源利用率和土壤肥力,增加土壤中的生物多样性,从而达到间接促进宿主植物南方红豆杉生长的目的。     

三株固氮类芽孢杆菌的特点及其对中国青菜的产量和土壤酶活性的影响

【目的】本研究分析三株固氮菌PGPR性状特征及其对中国青菜产量和土壤酶活的影响。【方法】氮(N)-修复(固氮)细菌被认为是一种能够促进植物生长和增产的施氮方式。在本研究中,我们用无氮培养基分离出了30株根际固氮细菌:11株来自小麦根际,16株来自中国青菜根际和3株来自莲花根际。基于16S r DNA序列分析,对小麦、中国青菜和莲花等植物根际中属于类芽孢杆菌属的主要固氮细菌进行研究。【结果】本研究从这30株固氮菌中筛选出三株属于类芽孢杆菌属(Paenibacillus)的细菌,分别命名为P-4、W-7和L-3,它们的固氮酶活性不但高于对照组(圆褐固氮菌),而且可以有效抑制两种或三种植物病原菌的生长,即核盘菌(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)、玉蜀黍赤霉(Gibberella zeae)和棉花黄萎病菌(Verticillium dahliae)。菌株W-7还具有溶解难溶磷的能力,中国青菜在接种菌株W-7和L-3后,其鲜重显著增加,同时改变了田间土壤蔗糖酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶的活性;而接种了菌株P-4对植物的生长和酶活性没有显著的影响。【结论】土壤蔗糖酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性与中国青菜的生物量呈正相关。同时,菌株W-7和L-3具有促进植物产量和提高土壤质量的良好潜力。     

棉花根际亲和性高效促生细菌的分离筛选

为了从棉花根际土壤筛选能与棉花凝集素具有亲和作用的高效促生细菌,以选择性培养基从棉花根部初步筛选具有固氮能力、解磷能力及解钾能力的促生细菌,再以异硫氰酸磺(FITC)标记的棉花凝集素为复筛工具,从棉花根际促生细菌中筛选能与棉花凝集素结合的亲和性菌株,分别挑选2株固氮菌、2株解磷细菌和2株解钾细菌作为微生物肥料接种到棉花根部进行盆栽试验.观察其在根部定殖情况.结果是在选择性平板上有20%～30%的菌株具有凝集素染色阳性.盆栽试验显示,接种的6株亲和性菌株能在棉花根部成功定殖,根际细菌数量约是灭活对照的`0倍.通过初步鉴定,固氮菌株N1111为固氮菌属(Azotobacter),N2121属于德克斯氏菌属(Derxia);解磷菌株P2126属于黄单胞菌属(Xanthomonas),P1108菌株为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas);解钾菌株K2204和K2116属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus).     

复合接种褐环乳牛肝菌与绿木霉对樟子松根际土壤生物活性年际变化的影响

为了探究褐环乳牛肝菌与绿木霉复合接种对樟子松根际土壤生物活性年际变化的影响,本研究采用盆栽试验法,调查了接种外生菌根菌——褐环乳牛肝菌(Suillus luteus)N94和绿木霉(Trichoderma virens)T43对樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)苗木根际土壤酶(过氧化氢酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶)、微生物数量(细菌、真菌和放线菌)和土壤养分(氮、有效磷和速效钾)的年际变化。结果表明:复合接种N94与T43可以有效发挥协同增效作用,该处理组的根际土壤酶、土壤微生物数量和土壤养分等均得到提高,所测试的各项指标(除2013年土壤氮外)均优于单接种处理组,且这种提高具有一定的持久性,年度变化显著。本研究可以为植物根际益生菌改良土壤生物活性、有效提高苗木生长质量提供数据参考。     

一株连香树根际促生细菌LWK2的分离鉴定及其全基因组序列分析

【背景】植物根际促生细菌是一类位于植物根际并能对植物生长产生促进作用的有益菌,在微生物肥料领域具有重要的应用价值。【目的】对濒危植物连香树根际的植物根际促生细菌进行分离筛选和连香树接种效应评价,挑选对连香树生长促进作用最为显著的菌种进行促生特性分析、菌种鉴定及全基因组序列测定与促生相关基因分析。【方法】利用相应筛选培养基对连香树根际土壤中解有机磷、溶无机磷和解钾细菌进行分离筛选,通过根际接种验证各菌株对连香树实生苗的促生能力。从中选取促生作用最为显著的细菌,进行解钾能力、产吲哚乙酸(indole-3-acetic acid,IAA)和1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate,ACC)脱氨酶能力测定。利用菌体形态观察、16S rRNA基因序列分析及全基因组序列的平均核苷酸一致性比对进行菌种鉴定。最后利用基因组功能注释和比较基因组学分析对该菌株中的植物促生及重金属抗性相关基因进行解析。【结果】从连香树根际土壤中共筛选得到3株解有机磷细菌、2株溶无机磷细菌和2株解钾细菌,其中解钾细菌LWK2对连香树实生苗的生长促进作用最为显著。该菌株能够产...     

Effects of growth-promoting rhizobacteria on maize growth and rhizosphere microbial community under conservation tillage in Northeast China

Conservation tillage in conjunction with straw mulching is a sustainable agricultural approach. However, straw mulching reduces the soil temperature, inhibits early maize growth and reduces grain yield in cold regions. To address this problem, we investigated the effects of inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on maize growth and rhizosphere microbial communities under conservation tillage in Northeast China. The PGPR strains Sinorhizobium sp. A15, Bacillus sp. A28, Sphingomonas sp. A55 and Enterobacter sp. P24 were isolated from the maize rhizosphere in the same area and inoculated separately. Inoculation of these strains significantly enhanced maize growth, and the strains A15, A28 and A55 significantly increased grain yield by as much as 22%–29%. Real-time quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing showed that separate inoculation with the four strains increased the abundance and species richness of bacteria in the maize rhizosphere. Notably, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria_Subgroup_6, Chloroflexi_KD4-96, and Verrucomicrobiae at the class level and Mucilaginibacter at the genus level were positively correlated with maize biomass and yield. Inoculation with PGPR shows potential for improvement of maize production under conservation tillage in cold regions by regulating the rhizosphere bacterial community structure and by direct stimulation of plant growth.     

Influence of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacterial Inoculation on Wheat Productivity Under Soil Salinity Stress

Soil salinity affects the growth and yield of crops. The stress of soil salinity on plants can be mitigated by inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR). The influence of PGPR inoculation on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop productivity under salinity stress has not been properly addressed so far. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of various PGPR strains (W14, W10 and 6K; alone and combined) at several growth attributes of wheat plant under different soil salinity gradients (3, 6 and 9 dS m-1). The growth attributes of wheat (height, roots, shoots, spikes, grains quality, biological and economical yield, nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in grains) were highly affected by salinity and decreased with increasing salinity level. The PGPR inoculation substantially promoted growth attributes of wheat and prominent results were observed in W14 × W10 × 6K treatment at all salinity levels. The results suggest that inoculation of PGPR is a potential strategy to mitigate salinity stress for improving wheat growth and yield.     

Pseudomonas brassicacearum strain Am3 containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase can show both pathogenic and growth-promoting properties in its interaction with tomato

The role of bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity in the interaction between tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum=Solanum lycopersicum) and Pseudomonas brassicacearum was studied in different strains. The phytopathogenic strain 520-1 possesses ACC deaminase activity, an important trait of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that stimulates root growth. The ACC-utilizing PGPR strain Am3 increased in vitro root elongation and root biomass of soil-grown tomato cv. Ailsa Craig at low bacterial concentrations (10(6) cells ml-1 in vitro and 10(6) cells g-1 soil) but had negative effects on in vitro root elongation at higher bacterial concentrations. A mutant strain of Am3 (designated T8-1) that was engineered to be ACC deaminase deficient failed to promote tomato root growth in vitro and in soil. Although strains T8-1 and 520-1 inhibited root growth in vitro at higher bacterial concentrations (>10(6) cells ml-1), they did not cause disease symptoms in vitro after seed inoculation, or in soil supplemented with bacteria. All the P. brassicacearum strains studied caused pith necrosis when stems or fruits were inoculated with a bacterial suspension, as did the causal organism of this disease (P. corrugata 176), but the non-pathogenic strain Pseudomonas sp. Dp2 did not. Strains Am3 and T8-1 were marked with antibiotic resistance and fluorescence to show that bacteria introduced to the nutrient solution or on seeds in vitro, or in soil were capable of colonizing the root surface, but were not detected inside root tissues. Both strains showed similar colonization ability either on root surfaces or in wounded stems. The results suggest that bacterial ACC deaminase of P. brassicacearum Am3 can promote growth in tomato by masking the phytopathogenic properties of this bacterium.     

Biosafety and colonization of Burkholderia multivorans WS-FJ9 and its growth-promoting effects on poplars

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of bacteria with conflicting biological characteristics, which make them simultaneously beneficial and harmful to humans. They have been exploited for biocontrol, bioremediation, and plant growth promotion. However, their capacity as opportunistic bacteria that infect humans restricts their biotechnological applications. Therefore, the risks of using these bacteria should be assessed. In this study, Burkholderia multivorans WS-FJ9 originally isolated from pine rhizosphere, which was shown to be efficient in solubilizing phosphate, was evaluated with respect to its biosafety, colonization in poplar rhizosphere, and growth-promoting effects on poplar seedlings. Pathogenicity of B. multivorans WS-FJ9 on plants was determined experimentally using onion and tobacco as model plants. Onion bulb inoculated with B. multivorans WS-FJ9 showed slight hypersensitive responses around the inoculation points, but effects were not detectable based on the inner color and odor of the onion. Tobacco leaves inoculated with B. multivorans WS-FJ9 exhibited slightly water-soaked spots around the inoculation points, which did not expand or develop into lesions even with repeated incubation. Pathogenicity of the strain in alfalfa, which has been suggested as an alternative Bcc model for mice, was not detectable. Results from gene-specific polymerase chain reactions showed that the tested B. multivorans WS-FJ9 strain did not possess the BCESM and cblA virulence genes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the colonization of the WS-FJ9 strain reached 1.4?×?10⁴ colony forming units (cfu)?g^?1 rhizosphere soil on day 77 post-inoculation. The B. multivorans WS-FJ9 strain could colonize the rhizosphere as well as the root tissues and cells of poplars. Greenhouse evaluations in both sterilized and non-sterilized soils indicated that B. multivorans WS-FJ9 significantly promoted growth in height, root collar diameter, and plant biomass of inoculated poplar seedlings compared with controls. Phosphorus contents of roots and stems of treated seedlings were 0.57 and 0.55 mg g^?1 higher than those of the controls, respectively. Phosphorus content was lower in the rhizosphere soils by an average of 1.03 mg g^?1 compared with controls. The results demonstrated that B. multivorans WS-FJ9 is a nonpathogenic strain that could colonize the roots and significantly promote the growth of poplar seedlings.     

The role of mycorrhizae and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in improving crop productivity under stressful environments

Both biotic and abiotic stresses are major constrains to agricultural production. Under stress conditions, plant growth is affected by a number of factors such as hormonal and nutritional imbalance, ion toxicity, physiological disorders, susceptibility to diseases, etc. Plant growth under stress conditions may be enhanced by the application of microbial inoculation including plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizal fungi. These microbes can promote plant growth by regulating nutritional and hormonal balance, producing plant growth regulators, solubilizing nutrients and inducing resistance against plant pathogens. In addition to their interactions with plants, these microbes also show synergistic as well as antagonistic interactions with other microbes in the soil environment. These interactions may be vital for sustainable agriculture because they mainly depend on biological processes rather than on agrochemicals to maintain plant growth and development as well as proper soil health under stress conditions. A number of research articles can be deciphered from the literature, which shows the role of rhizobacteria and mycorrhizae alone and/or in combination in enhancing plant growth under stress conditions. However, in contrast, a few review papers are available which discuss the synergistic interactions between rhizobacteria and mycorrhizae for enhancing plant growth under normal (non-stress) or stressful environments. Biological interactions between PGPR and mycorrhizal fungi are believed to cause a cumulative effect on all rhizosphere components, and these interactions are also affected by environmental factors such as soil type, nutrition, moisture and temperature. The present review comprehensively discusses recent developments on the effectiveness of PGPR and mycorrhizal fungi for enhancing plant growth under stressful environments. The key mechanisms involved in plant stress tolerance and the effectiveness of microbial inoculation for enhancing plant growth under stress conditions have been discussed at length in this review. Growth promotion by single and dual inoculation of PGPR and mycorrhizal fungi under stress conditions have also been discussed and reviewed comprehensively.     

Plant growth promoting bacteria from Crocus sativus rhizosphere

Present study deals with the isolation of rhizobacteria and selection of plant growth promoting bacteria from Crocus sativus (Saffron) rhizosphere during its flowering period (October–November). Bacterial load was compared between rhizosphere and bulk soil by counting CFU/gm of roots and soil respectively, and was found to be ~40 times more in rhizosphere. In total 100 bacterial isolates were selected randomly from rhizosphere and bulk soil (50 each) and screened for in-vitro and in vivo plant growth promoting properties. The randomly isolated bacteria were identified by microscopy, biochemical tests and sequence homology of V1–V3 region of 16S rRNA gene. Polyphasic identification categorized Saffron rhizobacteria and bulk soil bacteria into sixteen different bacterial species with Bacillus aryabhattai (WRF5-rhizosphere; WBF3, WBF4A and WBF4B-bulk soil) common to both rhizosphere as well as bulk soil. Pseudomonas sp. in rhizosphere and Bacillus and Brevibacterium sp. in the bulk soil were the predominant genera respectively. The isolated rhizobacteria were screened for plant growth promotion activity like phosphate solubilization, siderophore and indole acetic acid production. 50 % produced siderophore and 33 % were able to solubilize phosphate whereas all the rhizobacterial isolates produced indole acetic acid. The six potential PGPR showing in vitro activities were used in pot trial to check their efficacy in vivo. These bacteria consortia demonstrated in vivo PGP activity and can be used as PGPR in Saffron as biofertilizers.This is the first report on the isolation of rhizobacteria from the Saffron rhizosphere, screening for plant growth promoting bacteria and their effect on the growth of Saffron plant.     

Effect of Botanical Aromatic Compounds and Seed-surface pH on Growth and Colonization of Cotton Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria

Citral (3 , 7 - dimethyl - 2 , 6 - octadienal) , furfural (2 - furaldehyde) and benzaldehyde (benzoic adel hyde) previously demonstrated control activity against Meloidogyne incognita and fungal diseases on cotton . Plant growth - promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) applied to cotton were previously found to promote plant growth and reduce seedling disease . Studies were under taken to determine if these compounds were compatible with PGPR . In tests with 12 PGPR strains , vapor of citral inhibited in vitro growth of most strains , and vapor of furfural and benzaldehyde , with one exception , killed all but the Bacillus spp . tested . When 0 . 35 ml kg 1 soil of each compound were applied to the soil 9 - 10 days prior to planting the cotton cultivar Deltapine 51 , only furfural significantly reduced rhizosphere colonization across all strains from 4 . 70 colony - forming units (CFUs) / g of root to 4 . 42 CFUs / g root . In greenhouse studies , the low seed - surface pH (2 . 3) of commercial seed did not reduce root colonization , compared with colonization on roots from seed at pH 5 . 4 . There were no synergistic interactions between seed - surface pH and any of the compounds . Although previous research indicated that application of both furfural and benzaldehyde increased the proportion of Burkholderia spp . in the soil , there is no indication that they increased cotton root colonization by the B. cepacia strain tested . These results indicate PGPR can be combined with citral and benzaldehyde in integrated management systems and that the low seed - surface pH of acid - delinted cotton will not limit their application .     

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.     

Associative diazotrophs of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) from semi arid region--isolation and characterization

Diversity of the native diazotrophs associated with the rhizosphere of pearl millet (P. glaucumn), grown in nutritionally poor soils of semi-arid regions was studied with a view to isolate effective nitrogen fixing and plant growth stimulating bacteria with root associative characteristics. The native population varied from 10(3)-10(4) g(-1) of rhizosphere soil after 40 d growth and belonged to genera Azospirillum, Azotobacter and Klebsiella. Another non-diazotrophic root associative group was Pseudomonas sp., which also produced IAA and enhanced plant growth. Some of these rhizobacteria showed high in vitro acetylene reduction activity along with production of indole acetic acid. Out of 11 selected diazotrophs used as seed inoculants, M10B (Azospirillum sp.), M11E (Azotobacter sp.) and M12D4 (Klebsiella sp.) resulted in significant increase in total root and shoot nitrogen at 45 and 60 days of plant growth under pot culture conditions.