Toxicological Effects of Selective Herbicides on Plant Growth Promoting Activities of Phosphate Solubilizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella</Emphasis> sp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis> Strain PS19

This study examines the effect of four herbicides, quizalafop-p-ethyl, clodinafop, metribuzin and glyphosate, on plant growth promoting activities like phosphate solubilization, siderophores, indole acetic acid, exo-polysaccharides, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia production by herbicide tolerant Klebsiella sp. strain PS19. The strain was isolated from mustard rhizosphere. The selected herbicides were applied two to three times at the recommended rates. Klebsiella sp. strain PS19 tolerated a concentration of 1600 μg/ml each of quizalafop-p-ethyl and clodinafop, and 3200 and 2800 μg/ml of metribuzin and glyphosate, respectively. The activities of Klebsiella sp. strain PS19 observed under in vitro environment were persistent in the presence of all herbicides at lower rates. The plant growth promoting activities even-though decreased regularly, but was not lost completely, as the concentration of each herbicide was increased from the recommended to three times of higher doses. Among all herbicides, quizalafop-p-ethyl, generally, showed maximum toxicity to plant growth promoting activities of Klebsiella sp. strain PS19. As an example, 40, 80 and 120 μg/l of quizalafop-p-ethyl added to liquid culture Pikovskaya medium, decreased phosphate solubilizing activity of strain PS19 by 93, 95 and 97%, respectively over untreated control. The study revealed that the higher rates of herbicides though decreased the plant growth promoting activity but it did not completely inhibit the metabolic activities of strain PS19. The herbicide tolerance together with growth promoting activities observed under herbicide stress suggests that Klebsiella sp. strain PS19 could be used as bacterial preparation for facilitating the growth and yields of crops even in soils polluted with herbicides.     

镍胁迫下产铁载体细菌对花生的促生性

【目的】挖掘镍耐受性强、产铁载体活性高的植物根际促生细菌,研究镍胁迫下产铁载体细菌对花生的促生作用及其对花生吸收镍的影响。【方法】利用CAS(Chrome azurol S)培养基对花生根际产铁载体细菌定性筛选及定量测试获得产铁载体能力强的菌株,16S r RNA基因相似性及系统进化分析鉴定产铁载体细菌,并用含Ni~(2+)牛肉膏蛋白胨培养基测试细菌对Ni的耐受性;通过花生盆栽实验,测试花生的株高、根长、生物量、氮磷钾含量及镍含量来分析镍胁迫下产铁载体细菌对花生的影响。【结果】从花生根际分离筛选产铁载体芽孢杆菌5株,其中HSGJ1产铁载体能力最强,培养2 d后产156.56 mg/L的铁载体。HSGJ1对Ni~(2+)具有较强的耐受性,最小致死浓度为150 mg/L。在50、100 mg/kg的Ni~(2+)盆栽基质中,HSGJ1能够有效地促进花生的生长、增加花生的生物量及氮磷钾含量,并使花生根部和地上部分的镍含量降低。【结论】产铁载体芽孢杆菌HSGJ1是一株优良的植物根际促生细菌,可应用于镍污染农耕土壤的作物种植中,以提高作物在镍胁迫下的抗逆性,降低作物对镍的富集量,具有较好的应用价值。     

Isolation,Identification, Biocontrol Activity,and Plant Growth Promoting Capability of a Superior Streptomyces tricolor Strain HM10

Streptomyces is a genus with known biocontrol activity, producing a broad range of biologically active substances. Our goal was to isolate local Streptomyces species, evaluate their capacity to biocontrol the selected phytopathogens, and promote the plant growth via siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilization. Eleven isolates were obtained from local soil samples in Saudi Arabia via the standard serial dilution method and identified morphologically by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The biocontrol of phytopathogens was screened against known soil-borne fungi and bacteria. Plant growth promotion capacity was evaluated based on siderophore and IAA production and phosphate solubilization capacity. From eleven isolates obtained, one showed 99.77% homology with the type strain Streptomyces tricolor AS 4.1867, and was designated S. tricolor strain HM10. It showed aerial hyphae in SEM, growth inhibition of ten known phytopathogens in in vitro experiments, and the production of plant growth promoting compounds such as siderophores, IAA, and phosphate solubilization capacity. S. tricolor strain HM10 exhibited high antagonism against the fungi tested (i.e., Colletotrichum gloeosporides with an inhibition zone exceeding 18 mm), whereas the lowest antagonistic effect was against Alternaria solani (an inhibition zone equal to 8 mm). Furthermore, the most efficient siderophore production was recorded to strain HM8, followed by strain HM10 with 64 and 22.56 h/c (halo zone area/colony area), respectively. Concerning IAA production, Streptomyces strain HM10 was the most effective producer with a value of 273.02 μg/ml. An autochthonous strain S. tricolor HM10 should be an important biological agent to control phytopathogens and promote plant growth.     

Potential plant growth-promoting activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serratia nematodiphila</Emphasis> NII-0928 on black pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Piper nigrum</Emphasis> L.)

A potential bacterial strain designated as NII-0928 isolated from Western ghat forest soil with multiple plant growth promoting attributes, and it has been identified and characterized. Plant growth promoting traits were analyzed by determining the P-solubilization efficiency, Indole acetic acid production, HCN, siderophore production and growth in nitrogen free medium. It was able to solubilize phosphate (76.6 μg ml⁻¹), and produce indole acetic acid (58.9 μg ml⁻¹) at 28 ± 2°C. Qualitative detection of siderophore production and HCN were also observed. At 5°C it was found to express all the plant growth promotion attributes except HCN production. The ability to colonize roots is a sine qua non condition for a rhizobacteria to be considered a true plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals the identity of the isolate as Serratia nematodiphila with which it shares highest sequence similarity (99.4%). Seed bacterization with black pepper cuttings in greenhouse trials using Sand: Soil: FYM with three individual experimental sets with their respective control showed clearly the growth promoting activity. Hence, Serratia nematodiphila NII-0928 is a promising plant growth promoting isolate showing multiple PGPR attributes that can significantly influence black pepper cuttings. The result of this study provides a strong basis for further development of this strain as a bioinoculants to attain the desired plant growth promoting activity in black pepper growing fields.     

Effects of inoculation of plant-growth promoting bacteria on Ni uptake by Indian mustard

In this study, among a collection of Ni resistant bacterial strains isolated from serpentine soil, two plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB), Ps29C and Bm4C were selected based on their ability to utilize ACC as the sole N source and promote seedling growth in roll towel assay. The Ni resistant PGPB, Ps29C and Bm4C were characterized as Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus megaterium, respectively, on the basis of their 16s rDNA sequences. Assessment of the parameters of plant growth promotion revealed the intrinsic ability of the strains for the production of IAA, siderophore and solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Further, the plant growth promoting activity of Ps29C and Bm4C on the Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) were assessed with different concentrations of Ni in soil. Inoculation of Ps29C or Bm4C promoted plant growth and protected the plant from Ni toxicity. However, the maximum growth was observed in the plants inoculated with strain Bm4C. Inoculation with Ps29C or Bm4C had little influence on the accumulation of Ni in root and shoot system, but produced a much larger aboveground biomass. The present observations showed that the strains Ps29C and Bm4C protect the plants against the inhibitory effects of nickel, probably due to the production of IAA, siderophore and solubilization of phosphate. The above results provided a new insight into the phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil.     

具有ACC脱氨酶活性的麻疯树根际促生菌(PGPR)的分离筛选及系统发育分析

[目的]获得具有产ACC、IAA,铁载体,能固氮或解磷的潜在促生菌株.[方法]通过稀释涂布的方法,从麻疯树根际土壤中分离得到98株细菌,从中选取28株以产l-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)脱氨酶为主要促生指标进行筛选,同时检测了其产吲哚乙酸(IAA)、固氮、解磷及铁载体等促生指标的能力.[结果]结果显示,46％的菌株能产ACC脱氨酶,其含量最高可达到128.308 μmol α-KA/(mg.h),68％的菌株能产生IAA,54％的菌株有固氮的能力,32％的菌株有解磷的能力.少量菌株同时具有产ACC脱氨酶、IAA,固氮,解磷等能力.挑选代表性菌株进行16S rRNA序列分析,这些菌株属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和产碱杆菌属(Advenella)等8个属,其中多数菌株(50％)属于芽孢杆菌属,系统发育分析表明菌株KLBMP 4817、KLBMP 4821和KLBMP 4824为窄食单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)和类芽孢杆菌属(Paenibacillus)的潜在新种.[结论]攀枝花麻疯树根际土壤细菌中含有丰富的遗传多样性,且存在大量的促生菌株.其中,菌株KLBMP 4804产ACC脱氨酶含量最高.菌株KLBMP4820产IAA含量最显著.     

Rhizosphere colonization and arsenic translocation in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by arsenate reducing Alcaligenes sp. strain Dhal-L

In the present study, six arsenic-resistant strains previously isolated were tested for their plant growth promoting characteristics and heavy metal resistance, in order to choose one model strain as an inoculum for sunflower plants in pot experiments. The aim was to investigate the effect of arsenic-resistant strain on sunflower growth and on arsenic uptake from arsenic contaminated soil. Based on plant growth promoting characteristics and heavy metal resistance, Alcaligenes sp. strain Dhal-L was chosen as an inoculum. Beside the ability to reduce arsenate to arsenite via an Ars operon, the strain exhibited 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity and it was also able to produce siderophore and indole acetic acid. Pot experiments were conducted with an agricultural soil contaminated with arsenic (214 mg kg^?1). A real time PCR method was set up based on the quantification of ACR3(2) type of arsenite efflux pump carried by Alcaligenes sp. strain Dhal-L, in order to monitor presence and colonisation of the strain in the bulk and rhizospheric soil. As a result of strain inoculation, arsenic uptake by plants was increased by 53 %, whereas ACR3(2) gene copy number in rhizospheric soil was 100 times higher in inoculated than in control pots, indicating the colonisation of strain. The results indicated that the presence of arsenate reducing strains in the rhizosphere of sunflower influences arsenic mobilization and promotes arsenic uptake by plant.     

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.     

Plant growth enhancing effects by a siderophore-producing endophytic streptomycete isolated from a Thai jasmine rice plant (Oryza sativa L. cv. KDML105)

An endophytic Streptomyces sp. GMKU 3100 isolated from roots of a Thai jasmine rice plant (Oryza sativa L. cv. KDML105) showed the highest siderophore production on CAS agar while phosphate solubilization and IAA production were not detected. A mutant of Streptomyces sp. GMKU 3100 deficient in just one of the plant growth promoting traits, siderophore production, was generated by inactivation of a desD-like gene encoding a key enzyme controlling the final step of siderophore biosynthesis. Pot culture experiments revealed that rice and mungbean plants inoculated with the wild type gave the best enhancement of plant growth and significantly increased root and shoot biomass and lengths compared with untreated controls and siderophore-deficient mutant treatments. Application of the wild type in the presence or absence of ferric citrate significantly promoted plant growth of both plants. The siderophore-deficient mutant clearly showed the effect of this important trait involved in plant–microbe interaction in enhancement of growth in rice and mungbean plants supplied with sequestered iron. Our results highlight the value of a substantial understanding of the relationship of the plant growth promoting properties of endophytic actinomycetes to the plants. Endophytic actinomycetes, therefore, can be applied as potentially safe and environmentally friendly biofertilizers in agriculture.     

岑溪药用野生稻高效内生固氮菌分离及促生特性

【目的】以广西岑溪市野生稻保护区的药用野生稻为材料,分离纯化内生细菌,筛选固氮酶活性较高和对作物促生效果较好的菌株。【方法】利用乙炔还原法检测固氮酶活性,采用SDS-PAGE全细胞蛋白电泳和IS-PCR指纹图谱技术对分离到的固氮菌进行聚类。利用16S rRNA基因和nifH基因确定其系统发育地位。采用钼锑抗比色法、Salkowski比色法和CAS检测法分别测定菌株溶磷性、生长素的分泌能力和产铁载体能力。通过平板和盆栽试验检测其对水稻的促生作用。【结果】共分离得到35株内生固氮菌,分为6个类群。其中CX24固氮酶活性最高,经鉴定属于Klebsiella variicola,其固氮酶活性为298.64 μmol/(L·h),为参比模式菌株DSM15968的9倍。另外该菌株还具有较高的溶磷性、分泌生长素和产铁载体能力,能够有效地促进水稻的萌发和生长。【结论】菌株CX24属于Klebsiella variicola,是一株高效内生固氮菌,具有很好的生产应用前景。     

The use of biofertilizer of Calothrix sp. M103, enhanced by addition of iron and siderophore production

Calothrix sp. M103, enhanced by addition of iron and siderophore production was used as a biofertilizer. The strain was isolated from a colony on the surface root of a rice plant from a rice field in Bangladesh. It showed a marked and immediate increase in nitrogenase activity in response to the addition of iron and also a normal activity (compared with the control) under siderophore production. The addition of iron to iron-limited cultures resulted in a rapid increase in algal iron (11-fold) followed by a marked increase (9-fold) in nitrogenase activity, reaching about 11.8 kg N/ha/crop. This was more than twice the amount of nitrogen usually fixed by the alga during normal growth (controlled conditions), suggesting that pulsing algal inocula with iron would increase the efficiency of algae as a biofertilizer. Indeed, the use of an iron-pulsed inoculum of this strain as a biofertilizer resulted in an increase in the yield of sweetcorn by ca 143% over that produced by the control (no algal inoculation) and to ca a 73% increase over that produced by the normal inoculum (unpulsed with iron). The ability of this strain to produce siderophores has also led to both normal (compared with the control) nitrogenase activity as well as normal growth, which shows a marked contrast to other circumstances where the non-siderophore producing strains showed no growth at all. The significance of these observations on the enhancement of biofertilizer technology is discussed.     

Plant growth promoting potential of endophytic bacteria isolated from Piper nigrum

Piper nigrum is an interesting plant to study the endophytic microbial factors affecting plant growth because of its unique features. Endophytic bacterial isolation from the plant resulted in the isolation of twelve bacterial isolates which were screened for various plant growth promoting properties like phosphate solubilization, ACC deaminase production, siderophore production etc. Interestingly, seven isolates were found to have IAA biosynthetic potential. Bacterial isolates with multiple plant growth promoting properties were studied for their growth promoting effect on Vigna radiata seedlings. This resulted in the identification of Klebsiella sp. (PnB 10) and Enterobacter sp. (PnB 11) as the isolates with excellent growth promoting properties. The results confirm promising applications of the endophytic bacterial isolates obtained in the study and also their possible growth promoting effect in P. nigrum.     

H-13木霉对水稻硝酸还原酶及氮、磷、钾的影响

采用离子束对哈茨木霉进行注入并筛选出H-13菌株,该菌株发酵液含有对水稻生长有显促进作用的物质;经对喷施该菌株发酵液后的水稻硝酸还原酶(NR)活力及其N、P和K含量的测定,发现该菌株发酵液促进水稻生长与提高NR活力、增强对N、P和K的吸收有关。     

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.     

Growth promoting influence of siderophore-producing Pseudomonas strains GRP3A and PRS9 in maize (Zea mays L.) under iron limiting conditions

Maize seeds were bacterized with siderophore-producing pseudomonads with the goal to develop a system suitable for better iron uptake under iron-stressed conditions. Siderophore production was compared in fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. GRP3A, PRS9 and P. chlororaphis ATCC 9446 in standard succinate (SSM) and citrate (SCM) media. Succinate was better suited for siderophore production, however, deferration of media resulted in increased siderophore production in all the strains. Maximum siderophore level (216.23 microg/ml) was observed in strain PRS9 in deferrated SSM after 72 h of incubation. Strains GRP3A and PRS9 were used for plant growth promotion experiments. Strains GRP3A and PRS9 were also antagonistic against the phytopathogens, Colletotrichum dematium, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. Bacterization of maize seeds with strains GRP3A and PRS9 showed significant increase in germination percentage and plant growth. Maximum shoot and root length and dry weight were observed with 10 microM Fe3+ along with bacterial inoculants suggesting application of siderophore producing plant growth promoting rhizobacterial strains in crop productivity in calcareous soil system.     

Stimulation of the growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> by the plant growth promoting bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterobacter cancerogenus</Emphasis> MSA2

A novel Enterobacter cancerogenus MSA2 is a plant growth promoting gamma-proteobacterium that was isolated from the rhizosphere of Jatropha cucas a potentially important biofuel feed stock plant. Based on phenotypic, physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic studies, strain MSA2 could be classified as a member of E. cancerogenus. However, comparisons of characteristics with other known species of the genus Enterobacter suggested that strain MSA2 could be a novel PGPB strain. In vitro studies were carried for the plant growth promoting attribute of this culture. It tested positive for ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase production, phytase, phosphate solubilization, IAA (Indole acetic acid) production, siderophore, and ammonia production. The isolate was then used as a inoculant for the vegetative study of Jatropha curcas plant. Enterobacter cancerogenus MSA2 supplemented with 1% carboxymethylcellulose showed overall plant growth promotion effect resulting in enhanced root length (124.14%), fresh root mass (81%), fresh shoot mass (120.02%), dry root mass (124%), dry shoot mass (105.54%), number of leaf (30.72%), chlorophyll content (50.41%), and biomass (87.20%) over control under the days of experimental observation. This study was designed for 120 days and was in triplicate and the data was collected at every 30 days.     

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.     

Genomic insights on fighting bacterial wilt by a novel Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain Cas02

Bacterial wilt, caused by the Ralstonia solanacearum, can infect several economically important crops. However, the management strategies available to control this disease are limited. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been considered promising biocontrol agents. In this study, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain Cas02 was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy tobacco plants and evaluated for its effect on plant growth promotion and bacterial wilt suppression. Strain Cas02 exhibited several growth-promoting–related features including siderophore production, cellulase activity, protease activity, ammonia production and catalase activity. Moreover, strain Cas02 showed a significant inhibitory growth effect on R. solanacearum, and its active substances were separated and identified to be macrolactin A and macrolactin W by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Both greenhouse and field experiments demonstrated a good performance of Cas02 in plant growth promotion and bacterial wilt suppression. To explore the underlying genetic mechanisms, complete genome sequencing was performed and the gene clusters responsible for antibacterial metabolites expression were identified. Overall, these findings suggest that the strain Cas02 could be a potential biocontrol agent in bacterial wilt management and a source of antimicrobial compounds for further exploitation.     

Characterization of a versatile rhizospheric organism from cucumber identified as Ochrobactrum haematophilum

Several rhizobacteria play a vital role in promoting plant growth and protecting plants against fungal diseases and degrading pesticides in the environment. In this study, a bacterial strain, designated H10, was isolated from the rhizosphere at Laixi in Shandong Province, China, and was identified as Ochrobactrum haematophilum based on API 20 NE tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The plant growth-promoting characteristics of the strain were further characterized, and the results showed that strain H10 produces siderophore, indol-3-acetic (IAA) and solubilized phosphate but lacks 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. Inoculation with the strain was found to significantly increase (p < 0.05) the growth of cucumber in pot experiments. Strain H10 was assessed in vitro for antagonism against several pathogenic fungi and showed high antifungal activity. The cell-free culture filtrates, which had high extracellular chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and protease activities, could inhibit the growth of all pathogenic fungi tested, indicating that growth suppression was partly due to extracellular antifungal metabolites present in the culture filtrates. Changes in hyphal morphology were observed in phytopathogenic fungi after treatment with the culture filtrates. Additionally, strain H10 was able to degrade 80%, 85% and 58% of the pesticides chlorpyrifos, β-cypermethrin and imidacloprid, respectively, within 60 h in liquid culture. The inoculation of strain H10 into soil treated with 100 mg kg(-1) of the three pesticides accordingly resulted in a higher degradation rate than in noninoculated soils. These results highlight the potential of this bacterium for use as a biofertilizer and biopesticide and suggest that it may provide an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Additionally, it may represent a bioremediation agent that can remove contaminating chemical pesticide residues from the environment.     

Siderophore cross-utilization amongst nodule isolates of the cowpea miscellany group and its effect on plant growth in the presence of antagonistic organisms

Nodule isolates from the cowpea miscellany group of legumes produced varying concentrations of catecholate and hydroxamate types of siderophores under iron-limiting conditions. The nodule isolates differed with respect to siderophore cross-utilizing abilities; some were proficient at using siderophores of other nodule isolates (homologous siderophores) while others could utilize siderophores produced by other rhizospheric bacteria (heterologous siderophores). Utilization of siderophore of rhizospheric bacterium PsB, a plant pathogen, benefited the nodule isolate G11 in terms of growth under iron-limiting laboratory conditions, while PsB was clearly inhibited in the presence of G11. Plate assays showed that siderophore of G11 could withhold iron from PsB and hence PsB was inhibited in the presence of G11. Isolates G11 and PsB when applied simultaneously to peanut seedlings under sterile soil conditions, provided a clear advantage to the plant in terms of reduction in the inhibitory effect of PsB. The count of the nodule isolate G11 increased in the soil when co-inoculated with PsB, as compared to when inoculated alone. Thus, the increased growth of the plant can be attributed to the iron sequestration and plant growth promoting properties of G11. The isolate G11 could utilize the siderophores produced by many other rhizospheric isolates while the siderophore of G11 was not being utilized by these rhizospheric isolates.