Phytase-Producing Rahnella aquatilis JZ-GX1 Promotes Seed Germination and Growth in Corn (Zea mays L.)

Phytase plays an important role in crop seed germination and plant growth. In order to fully understand the plant growth-promoting mechanism by Rahnella aquatilis JZ-GX1，the effect of this strain on germination of maize seeds was determined in vitro, and the colonization of maize root by R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 was observed by scanning electron microscope. Different inoculum concentrations and Phytate-related soil properties were applied to investigate the effect of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 on the growth of maize seedlings. The results showed that R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 could effectively secrete indole acetic acid and had significantly promoted seed germination and root length of maize. A large number of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 cells colonized on the root surface, root hair and the root interior of maize. When the inoculation concentration was 107 cfu/mL and the insoluble organophosphorus compound phytate existed in the soil, the net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, phytase activity secreted by roots, total phosphorus concentration and biomass accumulation of maize seedlings were the highest. In contrast, no significant effect of inoculation was found when the total P content was low or when inorganic P was sufficient in the soil. R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 promotes the growth of maize directly by secreting IAA and indirectly by secreting phytase. This work provides beneficial information for the development and application of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 as a microbial fertilizer in the future.

Enhanced Iron Uptake in Plants by Volatile Emissions of Rahnella aquatilis JZ-GX1

Iron deficiency in soil has crucially restricted agricultural and forestry production. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by beneficial microorganisms have been proven to play an important role in inducing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We investigated the effects of VOCs released by the rhizobacterium Rahnella aquatilis JZ-GX1 on the growth and root parameters of Arabidopsis thaliana under iron deficiency. The effect of the rhizobacterial VOCs on the gene expression in iron uptake and hormone signaling pathways were detected by RT-qPCR. Finally, the VOCs of the JZ-GX1 strain that could promote plant growth under iron deficiency stress were screened. The results showed that the JZ-GX1 strain could induce A. thaliana tolerance to iron deficiency stress by promoting the development of lateral roots and root hairs and increasing the activities of H+ ATPase and Fe3+ reductase. In addition, the AHA2, FRO2, and IRT1 genes of A. thaliana exposed to JZ-GX1-emitted VOCs were upregulated 25-, 1. 81-, and 1.35-fold, respectively, and expression of the abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis gene NCED3 was upregulated on both the 3rd and 5th days. Organic compounds were analyzed in the headspace of JZ-GX1 cultures, 2-undecanone and 3-methyl-1-butanol were found to promote Medicago sativa and A. thaliana growth under iron-limited conditions. These results demonstrated that the VOCs of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 have good potential in promoting iron absorption in plants.

Microbiology of brewing production - bacteria of the order Enterobacterales and culture methods for their detection

The growth of 7 strains belonging to the order of Enterobacterales, represented by the species of Citrobacter Freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Obesumbacterium proteus, Rahnella aquatilis, Raoultella terrigena, Serratia marcescens and Shimwellia pseudoproteus, was monitored on selected cultivation media. Three types of agars - Endo, MacConkey and Chromocult Coliform agar together with two incubation temperatures of 28 and 37 °C were tested under aerobic conditions. The aim of the study was to detect such essential enterobacteria harmful to beer that cannot be proven at 37 °C, which is the temperature usually used in operational laboratories in breweries. Our results showed that most of the tested strains of enterobacteria were able to grow at 28 °C on all selected types of agar. The exception was just the representatives detection of which is problematic at 37 °C. Nevertheless, a little or no growth was always observed on just one of the tested media.

Complete Genome Sequence of Rahnella aquatilis MEM40, a Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium Isolated from Rice Rhizosphere Soil, with Antagonism against Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium graminearum

ABSTRACT Rahnella aquatilis strain MEM40 is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) with antagonism against Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium graminearum that was isolated from rice rhizosphere soil in Hubei, China. Here, we report its complete genome sequence, which will increase our understanding of the mechanisms of plant growth promotion and biocontrol.