scholarly journals Streptomyces Endophytes Promote Host Health and Enhance Growth across Plant Species

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah F. Worsley ◽  
Jake Newitt ◽  
Johannes Rassbach ◽  
Sibyl F. D. Batey ◽  
Neil A. Holmes ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Streptomyces bacteria are ubiquitous in soils and are well known for producing secondary metabolites, including antimicrobials. Increasingly, they are being isolated from plant roots, and several studies have shown they are specifically recruited to the rhizosphere and the endosphere of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we test the hypothesis that Streptomyces bacteria have a beneficial effect on A. thaliana growth and could potentially be used as plant probiotics. To do this, we selectively isolated streptomycetes from surface-washed A. thaliana roots and generated high-quality genome sequences for five strains, which we named L2, M2, M3, N1, and N2. Reinfection of A. thaliana plants with L2, M2, and M3 significantly increased plant biomass individually and in combination, whereas N1 and N2 had a negative effect on plant growth, likely due to their production of polyene natural products which can bind to phytosterols and reduce plant growth. N2 exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes filipin-like polyenes, including 14-hydroxyisochainin which inhibits the take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. N2 antifungal activity as a whole was upregulated ∼2-fold in response to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), suggesting a possible role during competition in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, coating wheat seeds with N2 spores protected wheat seedlings against take-all disease. We conclude that at least some soil-dwelling streptomycetes confer growth-promoting benefits on A. thaliana, while others might be exploited to protect crops against disease. IMPORTANCE We must reduce reliance on agrochemicals, and there is increasing interest in using bacterial strains to promote plant growth and protect against disease. Our study follows up reports that Arabidopsis thaliana specifically recruits Streptomyces bacteria to its roots. We test the hypotheses that they offer benefits to their A. thaliana hosts and that strains isolated from these plants might be used as probiotics. We isolated Streptomyces strains from A. thaliana roots and genome sequenced five phylogenetically distinct strains. Genome mining and bioassays indicated that all five have plant growth-promoting properties, including production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. Three strains significantly increased A. thaliana growth in vitro and in combination in soil. Another produces potent filipin-like antifungals and protected germinating wheat seeds against the fungal pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (wheat take-all fungus). We conclude that introducing Streptomyces strains into the root microbiome provides significant benefits to plants.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah F. Worsley ◽  
Jake Newitt ◽  
Johannes Rassbach ◽  
Sibyl F. D. Batey ◽  
Neil A. Holmes ◽  
...  

AbstractStreptomyces bacteria are ubiquitous in soils and are well-known for producing secondary metabolites, including antimicrobials. Increasingly, they are being isolated from plant roots and several studies have shown they are specifically recruited to the rhizosphere and the endosphere of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we test the hypothesis that Streptomyces bacteria have a beneficial effect on A. thaliana growth and could potentially be used as plant probiotics. To do this, we selectively isolated streptomycetes from surface washed A. thaliana roots and generated high quality genome sequences for five strains which we named L2, M2, M3, N1 and N2. Re-infection of A. thaliana plants with L2, M2 and M3 significantly increased plant biomass individually and in combination whereas N1 and N2 had a negative effect on plant growth, likely due to their production of polyene natural products which can bind to phytosterols and reduce plant growth. N2 exhibits broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes filipin-like polyenes, including 14-hydroxyisochainin which inhibits the Take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. N2 antifungal activity as a whole was upregulated ~2-fold in response to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) suggesting a possible role during competition in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, coating wheat seeds with N2 spores protected wheat seedlings against Take-all disease. We conclude that at least some soil dwelling streptomycetes confer growth promoting benefits on A. thaliana while others might be exploited to protect crops against disease.ImportanceIt is vital that we reduce our reliance on agrochemicals and there is increasing interest in using bacterial strains to promote plant growth and protect against disease. Our study follows up reports that Arabidopsis thaliana specifically recruits Streptomyces bacteria to its roots. In particular, we test the hypothesis that these bacteria can offer benefits to their A. thaliana hosts and that strains isolated from these plants might be used as probiotics. We isolated Streptomyces strains from surface washed A. thaliana roots and genome sequenced five phylogenetically distinct strains. Genome mining and bioassays indicated that all five strains have plant growth promoting properties, including production of IAA, siderophores and ACC deaminase activity. Three strains significantly increased A. thaliana growth in vitro and when applied in combination in soil. Another produces potent filipin-like antifungal metabolites and we used it as a seed coating to protect germinating wheat seeds against the fungal pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (wheat Take-all fungus). We conclude that introducing an optimal combination of Streptomyces strains into the root microbiome can provide significant benefits to plants.


2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl Donoso ◽  
Pablo Leiva-Novoa ◽  
Ana Zúñiga ◽  
Tania Timmermann ◽  
Gonzalo Recabarren-Gajardo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Several bacteria use the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) as a sole carbon and energy source. A cluster of genes (named iac) encoding IAA degradation has been reported in Pseudomonas putida 1290, but the functions of these genes are not completely understood. The plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN harbors iac gene homologues in its genome, but with a different gene organization and context than those of P. putida 1290. The iac gene functions enable P. phytofirmans to use IAA as a sole carbon and energy source. Employing a heterologous expression system approach, P. phytofirmans iac genes with previously undescribed functions were associated with specific biochemical steps. In addition, two uncharacterized genes, previously unreported in P. putida and found to be related to major facilitator and tautomerase superfamilies, are involved in removal of an IAA metabolite called dioxindole-3-acetate. Similar to the case in strain 1290, IAA degradation proceeds through catechol as intermediate, which is subsequently degraded by ortho-ring cleavage. A putative two-component regulatory system and a LysR-type regulator, which apparently respond to IAA and dioxindole-3-acetate, respectively, are involved in iac gene regulation in P. phytofirmans. These results provide new insights about unknown gene functions and complex regulatory mechanisms in IAA bacterial catabolism. IMPORTANCE This study describes indole-3-acetic acid (auxin phytohormone) degradation in the well-known betaproteobacterium P. phytofirmans PsJN and comprises a complete description of genes, some of them with previously unreported functions, and the general basis of their gene regulation. This work contributes to the understanding of how beneficial bacteria interact with plants, helping them to grow and/or to resist environmental stresses, through a complex set of molecular signals, in this case through degradation of a highly relevant plant hormone.


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 546-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Zúñiga ◽  
María Josefina Poupin ◽  
Raúl Donoso ◽  
Thomas Ledger ◽  
Nicolás Guiliani ◽  
...  

Although not fully understood, molecular communication in the rhizosphere plays an important role regulating traits involved in plant–bacteria association. Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN is a well-known plant-growth-promoting bacterium, which establishes rhizospheric and endophytic colonization in different plants. A competent colonization is essential for plant-growth-promoting effects produced by bacteria. Using appropriate mutant strains of B. phytofirmans, we obtained evidence for the importance of N-acyl homoserine lactone-mediated (quorum sensing) cell-to-cell communication in efficient colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana plants and the establishment of a beneficial interaction. We also observed that bacterial degradation of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) plays a key role in plant-growth-promoting traits and is necessary for efficient rhizosphere colonization. Wildtype B. phytofirmans but not the iacC mutant in IAA mineralization is able to restore promotion effects in roots of A. thaliana in the presence of exogenously added IAA, indicating the importance of this trait for promoting primary root length. Using a transgenic A. thaliana line with suppressed auxin signaling (miR393) and analyzing the expression of auxin receptors in wild-type inoculated plants, we provide evidence that auxin signaling in plants is necessary for the growth promotion effects produced by B. phytofirmans. The interplay between ethylene and auxin signaling was also confirmed by the response of the plant to a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase bacterial mutant strain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 12294
Author(s):  
Maria T. SALAZAR-RAMÍREZ ◽  
Jorge SÁENZ-MATA ◽  
Pablo PRECIADO-RANGEL ◽  
Manuel FORTIS-HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
Edgar O. RUEDA-PUENTE ◽  
...  

In the communities of Sierra Mojada and Viesca, Coahuila, Mexico of Coahuila desert, two rhizosphere samplings of candelilla (Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc) were collected to isolate, characterize, and identifying plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR); 165 rhizobacteria were tested in vitro with Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings to evaluate their potential as plant growth promoters, and obtaining 21 strains with best results in the variables of the number of secondary roots and fresh weight concerning the uninoculated control. Their salinity tolerance was evaluated at concentrations from 0.85 M, 1.7 M and 2.55 M of NaCl. Biochemical tests were accomplishing such as siderophores production, phosphates solubilization, production of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and the activity of the ACC deaminase enzyme. The results obtained from 21 strains selected, high activities were obtained in organic substances like a siderophores since they developed a translucent orange halo around their growth; four rhizobacteria developed a clear halo around the bacterial growth with a thickness between 1.487 mm ± 0.667 mm and 5.267 mm ± 0.704 mm in phosphates solubilization; in the production of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the bacterial strains showed the presence of this phytohormone, with values ​​from 4.444 μg mL-1 to 19.286 μg mL-1; and according to the activity of the ACC deaminase enzyme, values ​​from 0.424 to 1.306 µmol α-KB/h/mg Pr were showed. 16S rRNA sequencing was carried out and genus identified were Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Cronobacter and Siccibacter. The results obtained show the potential of the isolated rhizobacteria as growth promoters and the increase in the biomass of the Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings is evident. This is a first indication to proceed to carry out tests in different phenological stages in crops of agricultural importance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Lei Sun ◽  
Wen-Long Yang ◽  
Wen-Wan Fang ◽  
Yun-Xiu Zhao ◽  
Ling Guo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTVariovoraxis a metabolically diverse genus of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that engages in mutually beneficial interactions between plants and microbes. Unlike most PGPR,Variovoraxcannot synthesize the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) via tryptophan. However, we found thatVariovorax boronicumulansstrain CGMCC 4969 can produce IAA using indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN) as the precursor. Thus, in the present study, the IAA synthesis mechanism ofV. boronicumulansCGMCC 4969 was investigated.V. boronicumulansCGMCC 4969 metabolized IAN to IAA through both a nitrilase-dependent pathway and a nitrile hydratase (NHase) and amidase-dependent pathway. Cobalt enhanced the metabolic flux via the NHase/amidase, by which IAN was rapidly converted to indole-3-acetamide (IAM) and in turn to IAA. IAN stimulated metabolic flux via the nitrilase, by which IAN was rapidly converted to IAA. Subsequently, the IAA was degraded.V. boronicumulansCGMCC 4969 can use IAN as the sole carbon and nitrogen source for growth. Genome sequencing confirmed the IAA synthesis pathways. Gene cloning and overexpression inEscherichia coliindicated that NitA has nitrilase activity and IamA has amidase activity to respectively transform IAN and IAM to IAA. Interestingly, NitA showed a close genetic relationship with the nitrilase of the phytopathogenPseudomonas syringae. Quantitative PCR analysis indicated that the NHase/amidase system is constitutively expressed, whereas the nitrilase is inducible. The present study helps our understanding of the versatile functions ofVariovoraxnitrile-converting enzymes that mediate IAA synthesis and the interactions between plants and these bacteria.IMPORTANCEWe demonstrated thatVariovorax boronicumulansCGMCC 4969 has two enzymatic systems—nitrilase and nitrile hydratase/amidase—that convert indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN) to the important plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The two IAA synthesis systems have very different regulatory mechanisms, affecting the IAA synthesis rate and duration. The nitrilase was induced by IAN, which was rapidly converted to IAA; subsequently, IAA was rapidly consumed for cell growth. The nitrile hydratase (NHase) and amidase system was constitutively expressed and slowly but continuously synthesized IAA. In addition to synthesizing IAA from IAN, CGMCC 4969 has a rapid IAA degradation system, which would be helpful for a host plant to eliminate redundant IAA. This study indicates that the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteriumV. boronicumulansCGMCC 4969 has the potential to be used by host plants to regulate the IAA level.


1996 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Noel ◽  
C. Sheng ◽  
C. K. Yost ◽  
R. P. Pharis ◽  
M. F. Hynes

Early seedling root growth of the nonlegumes canola (Brassica campestris cv. Tobin, Brassica napus cv. Westar) and lettuce (Lactuca saliva cv. Grand Rapids) was significantly promoted by inoculation of seeds with certain strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum, including nitrogen- and nonnitrogen-fixing derivatives under gnotobiotic conditions. The growfh-promotive effect appears to be direct, with possible involvement of the plant growth regulators indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin. Auxotrophic Rhizobium mutants requiring tryptophan or adenosine (precursors for indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin synthesis, respectively) did not promote growth to the extent of the parent strain. The findings of this study demonstrate a new facet of the Rhizobium–plant relationship and that Rhizobium leguminosarum can be considered a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR).Key words: Rhizobium, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, PGPR, indole-3-acetic acid, cytokinin, roots, auxotrophic mutants.


Author(s):  
Di Fan ◽  
Donald L. Smith

There are pressing needs to reduce the use of agrochemicals, and PGPR are receiving increasing interest in plant growth promotion and disease protection. This study follows up our previous report that the four newly isolated rhizobacteria promote the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana .


2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Mayer ◽  
Patricia Dörr de Quadros ◽  
Roberta Fulthorpe

ABSTRACT A collection of bacterial endophytes isolated from stem tissues of plants growing in soils highly contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons were screened for plant growth-promoting capabilities. Twenty-seven endophytic isolates significantly improved the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana plants in comparison to that of uninoculated control plants. The five most beneficial isolates, one strain each of Curtobacterium herbarum, Paenibacillus taichungensis, and Rhizobium selenitireducens and two strains of Plantibacter flavus were further examined for growth promotion in Arabidopsis, lettuce, basil, and bok choy plants. Host-specific plant growth promotion was observed when plants were inoculated with the five bacterial strains. P. flavus strain M251 increased the total biomass and total root length of Arabidopsis plants by 4.7 and 5.8 times, respectively, over that of control plants and improved lettuce and basil root growth, while P. flavus strain M259 promoted Arabidopsis shoot and root growth, lettuce and basil root growth, and bok choy shoot growth. A genome comparison between P. flavus strains M251 and M259 showed that both genomes contain up to 70 actinobacterial putative plant-associated genes and genes involved in known plant-beneficial pathways, such as those for auxin and cytokinin biosynthesis and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase production. This study provides evidence of direct plant growth promotion by Plantibacter flavus. IMPORTANCE The discovery of new plant growth-promoting bacteria is necessary for the continued development of biofertilizers, which are environmentally friendly and cost-efficient alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizer effects on plant growth can be inconsistent due to the complexity of plant-microbe interactions, as the same bacteria can be beneficial to the growth of some plant species and neutral or detrimental to others. We examined a set of bacterial endophytes isolated from plants growing in a unique petroleum-contaminated environment to discover plant growth-promoting bacteria. We show that strains of Plantibacter flavus exhibit strain-specific plant growth-promoting effects on four different plant species.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document