The role of endophytic bacteria during seed piece decay and potato tuberization

Healthy potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Kennebec were found to be internally colonized by non-pathogenic bacterial populations originating from root zone soil. These endophytic bacteria were categorized, on the basis of bioassays, as plant growth promoting (PGP), plant growth retarding (PGR) and plant growth neutral (PGN). Genera isolated from tubers included Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Xanthomonas, Agrobacterium, Actinomyces and Acinetobacter. The PGP and PGR isolates were similarly distributed throughout these genera. Bacterial populations increased in the root zone soil directly adjacent to the seed piece during and immediately following seed piece decay. Bacteria sampled at this time were capable of promoting tuber number and weight. The proportions of PGP, PGR and PGN bacteria in the root zone were altered as endophytic bacteria were released from the decaying seed piece. The study indicates that endophytic bacteria present in the seed tubers may play an important role in seed piece decay, tuberization and plant growth.     

N-2-(azol-1(2)-yl)ethyliminodiacetic acids: a novel series of Gd(III) chelators as T2 relaxation agents for magnetic resonance imaging

The synthesis, physicochemical properties, and toxicological implications of a novel series of N-2-(azol-1(2)-yl)ethyliminodiacetic acids, useful as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging are reported. Compounds were prepared by alkylation of methyl iminodiacetate with N-2-bromoethylazoles and subsequent hydrolysis. Stability constants of the corresponding Gd(III) complexes and T1 and T2 relaxivities were determined and interpreted in terms of optimized geometries obtained by semiempirical PM3 calculations. Compounds show increased T2 relaxivity and decreased toxicity in vitro as compared to EDTA-Gd(III) complexes.     

ACUTE EFFECTS OF MOVEMENT VELOCITY ON BLOOD LACTATE AND GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSES AFTER ECCENTRIC BENCH PRESS EXERCISE IN RESISTANCE-TRAINED MEN

This study aimed to compare the effects of different velocities of eccentric muscle actions on acute blood lactate and serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations following free weight bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men. Sixteen healthy men were divided into two groups: slow eccentric velocity (SEV; n = 8) and fast eccentric velocity (FEV; n = 8). Both groups performed four sets of eight eccentric repetitions at an intensity of 70% of their one repetition maximum eccentric (1RMecc) test, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. The eccentric velocity was controlled to 3 seconds per range of motion for SEV and 0.5 seconds for the FEV group. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the kinetics of blood lactate removal (at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 20 min) and higher mean values for peak blood lactate (P = 0.001) for the SEV group (9.1 ± 0.5 mM) compared to the FEV group (6.1 ± 0.4 mM). Additionally, serum GH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) at 15 minutes after bench press exercise in the SEV group (1.7 ± 0.6 ng · mL⁻¹) relative to the FEV group (0.1 ± 0.0 ng · mL⁻¹). In conclusion, the velocity of eccentric muscle action influences acute responses following bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men using a slow velocity resulting in a greater metabolic stress and hormone response.     

Functional diversity of reef molluscs along a tropical-to-temperate gradient

Coral Reefs - Global warming is leading to range shifts of marine species, threatening the structure and functioning of ecological communities and human populations that rely on them. The largest...     

Bacterial endophytes in processing carrots (Daucus carota L. var. sativus): their localization, population density, biodiversity and their effects on plant growth

A survey of endophytic bacteria colonizing roots of processing carrots (Daucus carota) was performed with two high-yielding cultivars (Carochoice, Red Core Chantenay) grown at two locations (Canning, Great Village) in Nova Scotia. Most bacterial endophyte colony-forming units (CFU) were recovered from the carrot crown tissues (96%) compared to the periderm and metaxylem tissues of carrot storage tissues irrespective of the cultivars and field locations. Greater population densities of endophytic bacteria were recovered from the crowns of Red Core Chantenay (5.75 × 10⁵ CFU/g FW in Great Village; 3.0 × 10⁵ CFU/g FW in Canning) cultivar, which accounted for 78% of all of CFU recovered compared to cv. Carochoice. Independent of the cultivars, more endophytes were recovered from the carrots produced in Great Village compared to the ones grown in Canning (62 vs. 38%, respectively). Of 360 isolates examined, 28 bacterial genera were identified, of which, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Agrobacterium were the most common (31, 7 and 7%, respectively). Diversity indices showed no significant differences between the two locations. A bioassay using selected strains of bacteria was performed on 4 week-old carrot (cv. Bergen) and potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Atlantic) plantlets. In carrots, 83% of the bacterial strains tested were found to be plant growth promoting, 10% remained plant growth neutral and 7% inhibited plant growth. In contrast, in the potato bioassay 38% remained growth neutral, 33% promoted and 29% inhibited plant growth.     

Weeds as a source of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in agricultural soils.

The influence of plant growth promoting (PGP) activity of bacterial communities recovered from each of six weed species (barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusfalli (L.) Beauv.), corn spurrey (Spergula arvensis L.), goldenrod (Sonchus sp.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album L.), and quack grass (Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.)) was examined in relation to the effect it had on the growth of the potato cultivar Russet Burbank. Bacterial species composition and community structure were compared, species-abundance relationships were determined, and those members conferring positive benefits for potato growth and development were identified. Of the genera identified, Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas were the most common, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was the most frequent species recovered across all sources. Significantly higher population densities were found in the root zones of quack grass, compared with Italian ryegrass and lamb's-quarters. There were no significant differences in species richness among the root zones; however, evenness indices (species distribution) were significantly lower in corn spurrey (P = 0.05). Significantly higher diversity indices (Hill-1 and Hill-2 numbers) (P = 0.05) were found in the root zone soil communities of potato and goldenrod, indicating a decrease in the proportional abundance of common and very abundant species, respectively, while in barnyard grass, corn spurrey, and Italian ryegrass the reverse was the case. In both years of the study, Italian ryegrass and corn spurrey were consistently better sources of PGP rhizobacteria for potatoes, significantly (P < 0.001) increasing the mean wet weight of shoots and roots in in vitro bacterization studies. Barnyard grass was a consistently poor source of such isolates. Species-abundance measures of root zone bacterial biodiversity were not found, in this instance, to be a particularly good predictor of the presence or absence of PGP rhizobacteria. We consider that the study of complementary crops and soil-conditioning treatments should not preclude the examination of weed species as possible beneficials, as alterations in rhizobacterial biodiversity and functional versatility can influence the numbers and types of PGP bacterial strains, and consequently may serve to improve soil quality.