Determination of the Antagonistic Effects of Some Rhizospheric Bacteria against Macrophomina phaseolina under In Vitro Conditions

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a fungal pathogen causes charcoal rot disease (Sin: Rhizoctonia bataticola) and is responsible for significant yield losses in many plants. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the antagonistic ability of 39 different bacteria, isolated from the fields of sugar beet in 2019, against the pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina isolated from sugar beet, beans and chickpeas. Approximately 31% of the bacteria showed antibiosis effect against the pathogen. It was determined that the effectiveness level of Lelliottia amnigena, Bacillus atrophaeus, B.pumilus and B. cereus (7 isolates) was moderate to high against Macrophomina phaseolina. Bacillus atrophaeus (PTo15-1a) showed the highest efficacy of 80%, 72.94% and 82.35% against Macrophomina phaseolina of chickpea, bean and sugar beet respectively. Lelliottia amnigena (Pto 14-1b) was moderately effective (57.78%) against the chickpea isolate of the pathogen. It was observed that of the seven Bacillus cereus isolates used in the experiment, three isolates (Pto14-1a, Pto12-1b, Pto17-1b) were highly effective against the chickpea pathogen, two (Pto12-1b, Pto14-2b) against bean pathogen, and one (Pto15-1b) against sugar beet isolate. Results have shown varied level of antagonism by different test bacterial against different Macrophomina phaseolina isolates, while the highest level of antibiosis shown by Bacillus atrophaeus against all pathogenic isolates indicated that it can be a potential future bioagent in managing the disease.

Characterization of rhizospheric bacteria isolated from soil cultivated with sugarcane in Tamaulipas state, Mexico

The state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has two important sugar mills, with plantations of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) of more than 50 years, the objective of the study was the identification and bacterial characterization in the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the solubilization of phosphorus and plant growth of bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere of sugarcane. The isolation and morphological characterization were in 30 rhizosphere soil samples of the sugarcane variety CP 72-2086 using the Luria-Bertani media, Congo Red Agar and Potato Dextrose Agar. The molecular characterization was with the 16S rRNA gene and the bacterial inoculation consisted of seedlings of the variety CP 72-2086. 121 strains (38 species) were isolated, being Bacillus sp. most frequently, 14 species were positive for phosphorus solubilization: Bacillus sp. (6), Pseudomonas spp. (5), Paenibacillus (2) Streptomyces venezuelae (1) stand out. The greater phosphorus solubilization was Pseudomonas mediterranea (21.6 mm). Nine bacteria showed production close to 5 ppm IAA: Bacillus aryabhattai (6 ppm), Bacillus pumilus (5.8 ppm) and Ensifer adhaerens (5.6 ppm). Bacillus megaterium showed a higher percentage of chlorophyll and foliar nitrogen. In the present analysis, 38 bacterial species associated with the rhizosphere of the sugarcane variety CP 72-2086 were identified, so these results showed the potential to select native bacteria that have the ability to stimulate plant growth of the variety CP 72-2086.

Antimicrobial Potential of Rhizospheric Bacteria Streptobacillus sp.

Rhizospheric bacteria exhibiting antagonistic effects are a good source for the production of antibiotics. The antibiotics produced are naturally bactericidal or bacteriostatic in nature. In the present investigation, thirty-five rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from different soil samples. Agar well diffusion method, streak agar method, disc diffusion method and biochemical tests were performed to screen the ten antibiotic-producing bacteria. Among them, strain JRR34 selected on the basis of primary antagonistic activity was identified as Streptobacillus sp. Media optimisation was done to ensure maximum production of secondary metabolites. Streptobacillus sp. JRR34 showed good inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The ethyl crude extract of Streptobacillus sp. JRR34 rhizobacteria possessing good antagonistic activity against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria can be a vital source of novel antibiotics.

BACTERIAL DIVERSITY WITH PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING POTENTIAL ISOLATED FROM Agave americana RHIZOSPHERE

ABSTRACT Objective: Study the diversity of cultivable rhizospheric bacteria associated to Agave americana, and select native strains with potential as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Design/methodology/approach: The isolated bacteria were phenotypically characterized. The genetic diversity and identity of the strains were revealed by genomic fingerprints and by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Plant growth promoting ability and plant inoculation assays were evaluated to know the potential as PGPB. Results: A total of 235 strains were isolated from A. americana rhizosphere and were classified within of 10 different bacterial genera. Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter had high potential as PGPB. Study limitations/implications Cultivable approach was used to study rhizobacteria. A metagenomic study could expand the knowledge about the structure and diversity of bacterial community associated to A. americana. Findings/conclusions Rhizosphere bacteria have potential use as biofertilizer for the cultivation and propagation of A. americana and other agave species.

Effect of Natural Polysaccharide Matrix-Based Selenium Nanocomposites on Phytophthora cactorum and Rhizospheric Microorganisms

We studied the effects of new chemically synthesized selenium (Se) nanocomposites (NCs) based on natural polysaccharide matrices arabinogalactan (AG), starch (ST), and kappa-carrageenan (CAR) on the viability of phytopathogen Phytophthora cactorum, rhizospheric bacteria, and potato productivity in the field experiment. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it was shown that the nanocomposites contained nanoparticles varying from 20 to 180 nm in size depending on the type of NC. All three investigated NCs had a fungicidal effect even at the lowest tested concentrations of 50 µg/mL for Se/AG NC (3 µg/mL Se), 30 µg/mL for Se/ST NC (0.5 µg/mL Se), and 39 µg/mL for Se/CAR NC (1.4 µg/mL Se), including concentration of 0.000625% Se (6.25 µg/mL) in the final suspension, which was used to study Se NC effects on bacterial growth of the three common rhizospheric bacteria Acinetobacter guillouiae, Rhodococcus erythropolis and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans isolated from the rhizosphere of plants growing in the Irkutsk Region. The AG-based Se NC (Se/AG NC) and CAR-based Se NC (Se/CAR NC) exhibited the greatest inhibition of fungal growth up to 60% (at 300 µg/mL) and 49% (at 234 µg/mL), respectively. The safe use of Se NCs against phytopathogens requires them to be environmentally friendly without negative effects on rhizospheric microorganisms. The same concentration of 0.000625% Se (6.25 µg/mL) in the final suspension of all three Se NCs (which corresponds to 105.57 µg/mL for Se/AG NC, 428.08 µg/mL for Se/ST NC and 170.30 µg/mL for Se/CAR NC) was used to study their effect on bacterial growth (bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and biofilm formation effects) of the three rhizospheric bacteria. Based on our earlier studies this concentration had an antibacterial effect against the phytopathogenic bacterium Clavibacter sepedonicus that causes diseases of potato ring rot, but did not negatively affect the viability of potato plants at this concentration. In this study, using this concentration no bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of all three Se NCs were found against Rhodococcus erythropolis based on the optical density of a bacterial suspension, agar diffusion, and intensity of biofilm formation, but Se/CAR and AG NCs inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas oryzihabitans. The cell growth was decrease by 15–30% during the entire observation period, but the stimulation of biofilm formation by this bacterium was observed for Se/CAR NC. Se/AG NC also had bacteriostatic and antibiofilm effects on the rhizospheric bacterium Acinetobacter guillouiae. There was a 2.5-fold decrease in bacterial growth and a 30% decrease in biofilm formation, but Se/CAR NC stimulated the growth of A. guillouiae. According to the results of the preliminary field test, an increase in potato productivity by an average of 30% was revealed after the pre-planting treatment of tubers by spraying them with Se/AG and Se/CAR NCs with the same concentration of Se of 0.000625% (6.25 µg/mL) in a final suspension. The obtained and previously published results on the positive effect of natural matrix-based Se NCs on plants open up prospects for further investigation of their effects on rhizosphere bacteria and resistance of cultivated plants to stress factors.

Energetic Value of Elymus elongatus L. and Zea mays L. Grown on Soil Polluted with Ni2+, Co2+, Cd2+, and Sensitivity of Rhizospheric Bacteria to Heavy Metals

Plants, and microorganisms associated with them, offer an effective tool for removing pollutants, such as heavy metals, from the soil environment. The aim of this study was to determine changes caused by Ni2+, Co2+, and Cd2+ in the genetic diversity of soil-populating bacteria and the effect these heavy metals on the heating value of elongated coach grass (Elymus elongatus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Microorganisms support plants in removing heavy metals from soil. These plants can then be used for energetic purposes. The study aim was accomplished by determining counts of microorganisms and their resistance (RS) to Ni2+, Co2+, Cd2+, their colony development index (CD), ecophysiological diversity index (EP), and diversity established with the next generation sequencing (NGS) method. Further analyses aimed to establish test plants resistance to pollution with heavy metals and their heating value. Organotrophic bacteria turned out to be the most resistant to Co2+, whereas actinobacteria—to Cd2+ effects. At all taxonomic levels, the genetic diversity of bacteria was most adversely influenced by Cd2+ in the soil sown with Zea mays L. Bacteria belonging to Arthrobacter, Rhodoplanes, Kaistobacter, Devosia, Phycicoccus, and Thermomonas genera showed high tolerance to soil pollution with Ni2+, Co2+, and Cd2+, hence they should be perceived as potential sources of microorganisms useful for bioaugmentation of soils polluted with these heavy metals. Ni2+, Co2+, and Cd2+ had no effect on the heating value of Elymus elongatus L. and Zea mays L. The heating value of 1 kg of air-dry biomass of the tested plants was relatively high and ranged from 14.6 to 15.1 MJ. Elymus elongatus L. proved more useful in phytoremediation than Zea mays L.

Evaluation of The Effect of Epiphytic, Endophytic And Rhizosphere Bacteria On Seed Germination And Seedling Characteristics

During 2013 and 2014, in order to investigate the effect of bacteria on the characteristics and growth rate of cotton seedlings, isolated epiphytic, endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria from cotton plants in Golestan province. Based on biochemical and phenotypic tests, amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, were identified strains. Isolates of Bacillus pumilus MR11, B. pumilus MR12, B. pumilus MR13, B. safensis MR21, B. safensis MR22 and Stenotrophomonas pavanii MR31 identified as superior endophytes and rhizosphere. Also Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. syringae and Pantoea annanatis were identified as epiphytic from plants and seeds. These isolates were evaluated to effect on seedling growth characteristics. Based on results, the six-day-old seedlings treated with Bacillus pumilus MR11 and B. pumilus MR12 had the highest root and shoot length and fresh shoot weight. Due to the fact that B. pumilus MR12 and S. pavanii MR31 isolates had the highest percentage and germination rate, so their use as seed treatment can increase the percentage and germination rate of seeds and be effective in reducing the damage caused by seedling diseases. This is the first report of isolation of B. safensis, B. pumilus and S. pavanii bacteria from rhizosphere and cotton endophytes in Iran.