Redefining the dose of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum (Ascomycota, Hypocreales) to increase Fe bioavailability and promote plant growth in calcareous and sandy soils

Biocontrol agents can control pathogens by re-enforcing systemic plant resistance through systemic acquired resistance (SAR) or induced systemic resistance (ISR). Trichoderma spp. can activate the plant immune system through ISR, priming molecular mechanisms of defense against pathogens. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can infect a wide range of arthropod pests, and play an important role in reducing pests' population. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which EPF control plant diseases. We tested two well studied EPF, Metarhizium brunneum isolate Mb7 and Beauveria bassiana as the commercial product Velifer, for their ability to induce systemic immunity and disease resistance against several fungal and bacterial phytopathogens, and their ability to promote plant growth. We compared the activity of these EPF to an established biocontrol agent, T. harzianum T39, a known inducer of systemic plant immunity and broad disease resistance. The three fungal agents were effective against several fungal and bacterial plant pathogens and arthropod pests. Our results indicate that EPF induce systemic plant immunity and disease resistance by activating the plant host defense machinery, as evidenced by increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and defense gene expression, and that EPF promote plant growth. EPF should be considered as control means for Tuta absoluta. We demonstrate that, with some exceptions, biocontrol in tomato can be equally potent by the tested EPF and T. harzianum T39, against both insect pests and plant pathogens. Taken together, our findings suggest that EPF may find use in broad-spectrum pest and disease management and as plant growth promoting agents.

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A Study on the Farmers’ Awareness and Acceptance of Biofertilizers in Kottayam District

GIS Business ◽

10.26643/gis.v14i6.13572 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 425-431

Author(s):

Subin Thomas ◽

Dr. M. Nandhini

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria ◽

Nutrient Cycle ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Promote Plant Growth ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Structured Questionnaire ◽

Area Data

Biofertilizers are fertilizers containing microorganisms that promote plant growth by improving the supply of nutrients to the host plant. The supply of nutrients is improved naturally by nitrogen fixation and solubilizing phosphorus. The living microorganisms in biofertilizers help in building organic matter in the soil and restoring the natural nutrient cycle. Biofertilizers can be grouped into Nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers, Phosphorous-solubilizing biofertilizers, Phosphorous-mobilizing biofertilizers, Biofertilizers for micro nutrients and Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. This study conducted in Kottayam district was intended to identify the awareness and acceptance of biofertilizers among the farmers of the area. Data have been collected from 120 farmers by direct interviews with structured questionnaire.

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Physiology of Methylotrophs Living in the Phyllosphere

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040809 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 809

Author(s):

Hiroya Yurimoto ◽

Kosuke Shiraishi ◽

Yasuyoshi Sakai

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Sole Source ◽

Current Understanding ◽

Methylotrophic Bacteria ◽

Cellular Mechanisms ◽

Diurnal Cycles ◽

Promote Plant Growth ◽

Increase Crop Yield

Methanol is abundant in the phyllosphere, the surface of the above-ground parts of plants, and its concentration oscillates diurnally. The phyllosphere is one of the major habitats for a group of microorganisms, the so-called methylotrophs, that utilize one-carbon (C1) compounds, such as methanol and methane, as their sole source of carbon and energy. Among phyllospheric microorganisms, methanol-utilizing methylotrophic bacteria, known as pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), are the dominant colonizers of the phyllosphere, and some of them have recently been shown to have the ability to promote plant growth and increase crop yield. In addition to PPFMs, methanol-utilizing yeasts can proliferate and survive in the phyllosphere by using unique molecular and cellular mechanisms to adapt to the stressful phyllosphere environment. This review describes our current understanding of the physiology of methylotrophic bacteria and yeasts living in the phyllosphere where they are exposed to diurnal cycles of environmental conditions.

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Sewage sludge application enhances soil properties and rice growth in a salt-affected mudflat soil

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80358-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuhua Shan ◽

Min Lv ◽

Wengang Zuo ◽

Zehui Tang ◽

Cheng Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Root Growth ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Soil Reclamation ◽

Rice Growth ◽

Promote Plant Growth

AbstractThe most important measures for salt-affected mudflat soil reclamation are to reduce salinity and to increase soil organic carbon (OC) content and thus soil fertility. Salinity reduction is often accomplished through costly freshwater irrigation by special engineering measures. Whether fertility enhancement only through one-off application of a great amount of OC can improve soil properties and promote plant growth in salt-affected mudflat soil remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of our indoor pot experiment was to study the effects of OC amendment at 0, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.5%, calculated from carbon content, by one-off application of sewage sludge on soil properties, rice yield, and root growth in salt-affected mudflat soil under waterlogged conditions. The results showed that the application of sewage sludge promoted soil fertility by reducing soil pH and increasing content of OC, nitrogen and phosphorus in salt-affected mudflat soil, while soil electric conductivity (EC) increased with increasing sewage sludge (SS) application rates under waterlogged conditions. In this study, the rice growth was not inhibited by the highest EC of 4.43 dS m−1 even at high doses of SS application. The SS application increased yield of rice, promoted root growth, enhanced root activity and root flux activity, and increased the soluble sugar and amino acid content in the bleeding sap of rice plants at the tillering, jointing, and maturity stages. In conclusion, fertility enhancement through organic carbon amendment can “offset” the adverse effects of increased salinity and promote plant growth in salt-affected mudflat soil under waterlogged conditions.

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Profiling of Plant Growth-Promoting Metabolites by Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria in Maize Rhizosphere

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10061071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1071

Author(s):

Minchong Shen ◽

Jiangang Li ◽

Yuanhua Dong ◽

Hong Liu ◽

Junwei Peng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Microbial Control ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria ◽

Mean Values ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Promote Plant Growth ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Phosphate Solubilizing ◽

Microbial Treatments

Microbial treatment has recently been attracting attention as a sustainable agricultural strategy addressing the current problems caused by unreasonable agricultural practices. However, the mechanism through which microbial inoculants promote plant growth is not well understood. In this study, two phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) were screened, and their growth-promoting abilities were explored. At day 7 (D7), the lengths of the root and sprout with three microbial treatments, M16, M44, and the combination of M16 and M44 (Com), were significantly greater than those with the non-microbial control, with mean values of 9.08 and 4.73, 7.15 and 4.83, and 13.98 and 5.68 cm, respectively. At day 14 (D14), M16, M44, and Com significantly increased not only the length of the root and sprout but also the underground and aboveground biomass. Differential metabolites were identified, and various amino acids, amino acid derivatives, and other plant growth-regulating molecules were significantly enhanced by the three microbial treatments. The profiling of key metabolites associated with plant growth in different microbial treatments showed consistent results with their performances in the germination experiment, which revealed the metabolic mechanism of plant growth-promoting processes mediated by screened PSB. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of PSB in sustainable agriculture.

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Exploring microbial community structure and their interrelationship in tomato Rhizosphere

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH AND REVIEW ◽

10.52756/ijerr.2017.v12.007 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 50-57

Author(s):

Sangram Sinha ◽

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Microbial Diversity ◽

Hot Spot ◽

Acid Tolerance ◽

Root Surface ◽

Strong Correlations ◽

Plant Microbe Interaction ◽

Biochemical Characterisation ◽

Promote Plant Growth ◽

Phosphate Solubilizing

The Rhizosphere is the small zone surrounding plants' root surface is now considered as hot spot for microbial diversity and pivotal for plant-microbe interaction. The plant-microbe interaction is very vital for plant growth, productivity and stress tolerance. The present study attempted to explore the culturable microbial diversity in the tomato Rhizosphere from agricultural fields of Haripal block of West Bengal. The study found that the Rhizosphere is rich in gram-positive rods, and further biochemical characterisation predicted Bacillus cereus as the signature genus consisting of 26% of the total bacteria characterised in this study. Pearson’s correlation coefficient of different important adaptive characters of the bacterial population revealed strong correlations between salt tolerance, exo-polysaccharide (EPS) production, acid tolerance and phosphate solubilizing activity. These interactions may be crucial for Rhizosphere colonisation and overcoming hostile environment like salinity, drought, soil acidity and ultimately promote plant growth under diverse environmental stress.

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Nematodes in relation to plant growth, IV. Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) on orchard trees.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v10i4.17587 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 286-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H. Hoestra ◽

M. Oostenbrink

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Shoot Growth ◽

Sandy Soils ◽

Good Evidence ◽

Small Populations ◽

Pratylenchus Penetrans ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Nematode Density ◽

Large Populations ◽

Considerable Damage

The damage caused by Pratylenchus penetrans in orchards is discussed. In 2 experimental fields containing 4 varieties of apple, there was good evidence of a decrease in yield with increased nematode density before apple seedlings were planted. Heavy nematode infestations reduced shoot growth by more than 50%. A concentration of 100 nematodes per 300 ml. of soil may cause considerable damage. The process of infestation and symptoms of nematode attack under field and experimental conditions are discussed. In clean cultivated orchards on light sandy soils there are often large populations in the roots and very small populations in the soil but on heavier soils, the converse is true. Hoestra & Oostenbrink conclude without doubt that P. penetrans is an important cause of replant problems in orchards. H.R. W. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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The Applications of Nanotechnology in Crop Production

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26237070 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (23) ◽

pp. 7070

Author(s):

Chenxu Liu ◽

Hui Zhou ◽

Jie Zhou

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Specific Surface ◽

Crop Production ◽

Molecular Level ◽

High Specific Surface Area ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Crop Tolerance ◽

Plant Growth Stages ◽

Global Agriculture ◽

Promote Plant Growth

With the frequent occurrence of extreme climate, global agriculture is confronted with unprecedented challenges, including increased food demand and a decline in crop production. Nanotechnology is a promising way to boost crop production, enhance crop tolerance and decrease the environmental pollution. In this review, we summarize the recent findings regarding innovative nanotechnology in crop production, which could help us respond to agricultural challenges. Nanotechnology, which involves the use of nanomaterials as carriers, has a number of diverse applications in plant growth and crop production, including in nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors and nanobiotechnology. The unique structures of nanomaterials such as high specific surface area, centralized distribution size and excellent biocompatibility facilitate the efficacy and stability of agro-chemicals. Besides, using appropriate nanomaterials in plant growth stages or stress conditions effectively promote plant growth and increase tolerance to stresses. Moreover, emerging nanotools and nanobiotechnology provide a new platform to monitor and modify crops at the molecular level.

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