Effects and mechanism of two Streptomyces strains on promoting plant growth and increasing grain yield of maize

Abstract

This paper was mainly to explore the effects of two Streptomyces strains (S. roche D74 and S. pactum Act12) and their mixed actinomycetes agent on maize growth. Petri dish germination test, sand culture trial and plot trial were performed to determine the biological properties, leaf inducible enzyme activities, photosynthesis, ear characteristics, grain yield and quality of maize after seed soaking with acellular culture filtrate of D74 or Act 12 and seed coating with the mixed actinomycetes agent of two Streptomyces stains. The result showed that the seed soaking treatment significantly contributed to hypocotyls, radical and seedling growth, and increased the leaf inducible enzyme activities of maize seedlings. The 1000-fold dilution of D74 improved hypocotyl length, radicle length, and fibrous root number by 43.4%, 26.4%, and 100.7% (P<0.05), respectively, whereas the undiluted solution of D74 improved leaf polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity by 40.2% (P<0.05). The 1000-fold dilution of Act12 improved hypocotyl length, radicle length, and fibrous root number by 36.3%, 36.3%, and 117.5% (P<0.05), the total fresh mass and root fresh mass by 31.1% and 36.6%, respectively (P<0.05). The 10-fold and 1000-fold dilutions of Act12 improved leaf PPO activity by 38.1% and 39.5%, respectively (P<0.05). The seed coating treatment showed the following significant effects, compared with the control: 1) Improving the root development. 2) Enhancing the leaf photosynthesis. 3) Improving the ear characteristics and grain yield. 4) Promoteing the grain filling. 5) Improving the leaf inducible enzyme activities. The results indicated that seed coating with the mixed actinomycetes agent of two Streptomyces strains could significantly affect the biological characteristics, photosynthesis and biochemical metabolism of maize seedlings, stimulate root development, promote plant growth, and improve grain yield of maize.