Abstract
This study aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from wheat rhizosphere, to characterize their in vitro plant growth promoting activities and to differentiate plant-associated LAB from those associated with foods or human disease through comparative genomic analysis. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Enterococcus faecium were isolated using de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) and Glucose Yeast Peptone (GYP) as enrichment culture media. Comparative genomic analyses showed that plant-associated LAB strains were enriched in genes coding for bacteriocin production when compared to strains from other ecosystems. Isolates of L. lactis and E. faecium did not produce physiologically relevant concentrations of the phyto-hormone indolacetic acid. All isolates solubilized high amount of phosphate and 12 of 16 strains solubilized potassium. E. faecium LB5, L. lactis LB6, LB7, and LB9 inhibited the plant pathogenic Fusarium graminearum to the same extent as two strains of Bacillus sp. However, the antifungal activity of the abovementioned LAB strains depended on the medium of cultivation and a low pH while antifungal activity of Bacillus spp. was independent of the growth medium and likely relates to antifungal lipopeptides. This study showed the potential of rhizospheric LAB for future application as biofertilizers in agriculture.
Highlights
Agriculture is an important economic sector in many countries and, according to FAO, 37% of the global land area is dedicated to agriculture [1]
This study showed that, besides the well-recognized PGPB, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from wheat rhizosphere may have potential plant growth promotion activities, too
No strain possessed all the plant growth promoting activity at the highest level and ongoing research is focusing on setting-up a LAB consortium for future application as biofertilizer in conventional and organic agriculture
Summary
Agriculture is an important economic sector in many countries and, according to FAO, 37% of the global land area is dedicated to agriculture [1]. Conventional agriculture produces high yields and seems to be the most appropriate solution to the estimated increase of the world population [2]. It relies on the use of chemical fertilizers, which are responsible for water and soil pollution, soil degradation and biodiversity loss [3]. Conventional agriculture employs pesticides to control phytopathogens that cause the loss of an estimated 9–16% of important cereal crops such as wheat, rice, and maize [4]. Organic agriculture excludes use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides [5] and improves soil fertility through the incorporation of legumes and compost, determining an increase of specie biodiversity in the whole ecosystem [6]. Organic agriculture produces 13–34 % lower yields when compared to conventional cropping systems [7]
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