Denitrification and nitrogen fixation by Azospirillum

Abstract

A model system is described where Azospirillum and germinated wheat seeds were grown in association for a week and then assayed for nitrogen fixation (C2H2-reduction) and denitrification (N2O-formation) activities. The association performed C2H2-reduction and N2O-formation under microaerobic conditions. Both activities were measurable after already 3–5 h of incubation with substantial rates and were strictly dependent on the presence of both plants and bacteria. During the week of the growth of the association, the bacteria had lived exclusively from the carbon compounds supplied by the roots of the plants. C2H2-reduction activity by the association was more or less the same with all the Azospirillum brasilense strains, but lower with A. lipoferum and with the A. amazonense strains tested. Two nitrogenase negative mutants of Azospirillum brasilense showed virtually no activity in the association. C2H2-reduction activity was strongly dependent on the growth temperature of the association. Denitrification (N2O-formation) was high also at higher temperatures and at pH-values in the medium around 7.8 but not at neutrality and was strictly dependent on nitrate. The Azospirillum strain used strongly determined the rate of the N2O-formation in the association. It is suggested that Azospirillum may be beneficial to crops particularly under tropical conditions.