Pink-pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs Research Articles

Bioprospects of pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs)

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide information about interactions between pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph (PPFM) organisms and plants, their molecular mechanisms of methylotrophic metabolism, application of PPFMs in agriculture, biotechnology and bioremediation and also to explore lacuna in PPFMs research and direction for future research.Design/methodology/approachResearch findings on PPFM organisms as potent plant growth promoting organisms are discussed in the light of reports published by various workers. Unexplored field of PPFM research are detected and their application as a new group of biofertilizer that also help host plants to overcome draught stress in poorly irrigated crop field is suggested.FindingsPPFMs are used as plant growth promoters for improved crop yield, seed germination capacity, resistance against pathogens and tolerance against drought stress. Anti-oxidant and UV resistant properties of PPFM pigments protect the host plants from strong sunshine. PPFMs have excellent draught ameliorating capacity.Originality/valueTo meet the ever increasing world population, more and more barren, less irrigated land has to be utilized for agriculture and horticulture purpose and use of PPFM group of organisms due to their draught ameliorating properties in addition to their plant growth promoting characters will be extremely useful. PPFMs are also promising candidates for the production of various industrially and medicinally important enzymes and other value-added products. Wider application of this ecofriendly group of bacteria will reduce crop production cost thus improving economy of the farmers and will be a greener alternative of hazardous chemical fertilizers and fungicides.Graphicalabstract:

Development of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs’ (PPFMs) Consortium Formulation and Its Efficacy on Chilli (Capsicum annuum)

This research aims to investigate the potential effect of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs) as foliar application to enhance growth parameters of chiili crop. The laboratory and pot studies were conducted at Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The PPFMs were isolated from the phyllosphere of solanaceous crop (Chilli, Brinjal, Potato, Tomato and Tobacco) and five out of thirty isolates were selected based on their methanol consuming and plant growth promoting traits. Consortium of isolates (Methylobacterium populi AAU PPFM C-7, M. radiotolerans AAU PPFM C-17, M. populi AAU PPFM C-19, M. populi AAU PPFM T-2 and M. radiotolerans B-2) were prepared after studying their compatibility. Pot study was laid out in net house using completely randomized design with four replications on Chilli crop. The results of the study showed significant effect of PPFMs consortium on growth parameters of chilli (viz. shoot length, root length, shoot weight, root weight, number of branches per plant) that could be result of the plant growth promoting traits of PPFMs.

Distribution and Potential Ecophysiological Roles of Multiple GroEL Chaperonins in Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs

Distribution and Potential Ecophysiological Roles of Multiple GroEL Chaperonins in Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs

A widespread methylotroph acyl-homoserine lactone synthase produces a new quorum sensing signal that regulates swarming in Methylobacterium fujisawaense.

Bacteria known as pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs colonize many diverse environments on earth, play an important role in the carbon cycle, and in some cases promote plant growth. However, little is known about how these organisms interact with each other and their environment. In this work, we identify one of the chemical signals commonly used by these bacteria and discover that this signal controls swarming motility in the pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph Methylobacterium fujisawaense DSM5686. This work provides new molecular details about interactions between these important bacteria and will help scientists predict these interactions and the group behaviors they regulate from genomic sequencing information.

Growth and Essential Oil Quantity of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) in Response to Foliar Application of Moringa Extract and Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic Bacteria Methylobacterium populi

Growth and Essential Oil Quantity of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) in Response to Foliar Application of Moringa Extract and Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic Bacteria Methylobacterium populi

Determination of Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Compounds, and Toxicity of Methanolic and Ethanolic Extracts of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) Bacteria Pigment

Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs bacteria are a plant’s surface inhabitant, especially at the leaf. They are known as Methylobacterium species. The antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and level of toxicity of this bacteria pigment have been studied. Recently, no previous research focused on the same bacterium found in Melicope lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) T. G. Hartley, which is a component of the Malaysian ulam leaf. This study employed the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, along with total phenolic content determination to assess the antioxidant activities of the methanolic and ethanolic pigment extract. Additionally, the consumption safety level of the pigment extract used brine shrimp lethality assay. From these findings, ethanolic pigment extract has a higher antioxidant capacity than methanolic extract. The DPPH half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of methanolic pigment extract is higher than ethanolic extract (0.72 ± 0.04 mg/ml), but the IC50 value is vice versa for ABTS (4.59 ± 2.17 mg/ml). Furthermore, ethanolic extracts have a high FRAP assay value (1.09 ± 0.19 mg/mg of trolox equivalent at 0.78 mg/ml sample) and phenolic content (1.39 ± 0.07 mg/mg of gallic acid equivalent at 0.78 mg/ml sample) compared to methanolic pigment extracts. Fortunately, the methanolic and ethanolic pigment extract’s lethal concentration values (4.52 and 9.94 mg/ml) are considered safe for food application since their toxicity level is higher than 1 mg/ml.

Draft genome sequence of the highly copper-tolerant Methylobacterium radiotolerans MLP1 isolated from the rhizosphere of grasses adjacent to mine tailings.

We present the genome of a highly copper-tolerant pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph isolated from the rhizosphere of grasses growing close to mine tailings. Based on whole-genome taxonomic analyses, this isolate was named Methylobacterium radiotolerans MLP1. Studies are in progress to infer its genome-based copper resistome.

Mitigation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Using Plant Growth Regulators in Rice

Split plot design experiments were conducted to assess the performance of growth regulating compounds for mitigating moisture stress and the incidence of Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) in rice. The main plot treatments (4) comprised moisture stress free control (M1), moisture stress during panicle initiation stage alone (M2), moisture stress during flowering stage alone (M3), and moisture stress during both panicle initiation and flowering stages (M4). The sub-plot treatments (5) were foliar application of growth regulating compounds including chlormequat chloride at 200 ppm (S1), mepiquat chloride at 200 ppm (S2), brassinolide at 0.1 ppm (S3), pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) at 1% (S4), and no spray control (S5). The reduced plant growth attributes were registered under moisture stress at both panicle initiation and flowering stages. The spraying of 1% PPFM during the flowering or both at panicle initiation and flowering stages led to better performance than the other treatments. Also, spraying 1% PPFM brought down the population of BPH to a considerable level during both years of experiments. This suggests that spraying 1% PPFM in the post-flowering stage helps to mitigate the ill effect the moisture stress and BPH incidence.

Effect of moisture stress and growth regulating compounds on water use and yield of transplanted rice

A Field research was carried out at the Wetland Farm, Department of Farm Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during the Rabi and Summer seasons of 2017 and 2018, to examine the effects of moisture stress and growth-regulating compounds on nutrient uptake, water use efficiency, water productivity, and yield of transplanted puddled rice. Three replications of split plot designs were used for field experiment. The treatments includes foliar applications of growth-regulating compounds, such as chlormequat chloride at 200 ppm, mepiquat chloride at 200 ppm brassinolide at 0.1 ppm , Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM 1%) and Control (No spray) at different growth stages, such as panicle initiation stage, flowering stage, and both panicle initiation and flowering stage. The moisture stress free control is implemented by irrigating the field with 5 cm of irrigation each day after the disappearance of previously ponded water. Treatment combination of moisture stress at panicle initiation stage along with 0.1 ppm brassinolide had recorded to increased WUE of 7.09, 6.68 kg ha-mm-1 and water productivity of 0.71 and 0.67 kg m-3, respectively during Rabi and summer season. Treatment combination of moisture stress at both panicle initiation and flowering stages along with PPFM registered lower WUE with 6.19 and 5.78 kg ha-mm-1 and lower water productivity with 0.62 and 0.58 kg m-3, during both the seasons. it could be concluded that, foliar application of 0.1 ppm brassinolide for mitigating the moisture stress at panicle initiation stage alone and one per cent PPFM spray when crop suffered moisture stress at flowering phase were effective in mitigating the moisture stress in attaining the maximum crop yields.

Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs): Potential Bioinoculants for Sustainable Crop Production

Bacteria belonging to the genus Methylobacterium, popularly known as pink pigmented facultative methylotrophic (PPFM) bacteria, are well known for their distinct ability to use single-carbon compounds like methanol, formate and formaldehyde, and also a variety of multi-carbon substrates lacking carbon-carbon bonds. These bacterial groups are ubiquitously distributed, especially in phyllosphere and rhizosphere, and their occurrence have been reported in more than 100 species of plants so far. PPFMs have profound influence on soil fertility, crop growth and yield. The ability for phosphate acquisition, nitrogen fixation, iron chelation and phytohormone production indicate the possibility of developing them as promising biofertilizer candidates. In addition, many of them possess biocontrol activity against several phytopathogens. PPFMs induce several physiological changes in plants, making the plants more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress. They can therefore be promising alternatives to conventional chemical inputs in sustainable agricultural systems.

Effect of foliar spraying with Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic Bacteria as a Foliar Spraying on the Growth and Productivity of Strawberry.

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Five copper homeostasis gene clusters encode the Cu-efflux resistome of the highly copper-tolerant Methylorubrum extorquens AM1.

In the last decade, the use of copper has reemerged as a potential strategy to limit healthcare-associated infections and to control the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Numerous environmental studies have proposed that most opportunistic pathogens have acquired antimicrobial resistance in their nonclinical primary habitat. Thus, it can be presumed that copper-resistant bacteria inhabiting a primary commensal niche might potentially colonize clinical environments and negatively affect the bactericidal efficacy of Cu-based treatments. The use of copper in agricultural fields is one of the most important sources of Cu pollution that may exert selection pressure for the increase of copper resistance in soil and plant-associated bacteria. To assess the emergence of copper-resistant bacteria in natural habitats, we surveyed a laboratory collection of bacterial strains belonging to the order Rhizobiales. This study proposes that Methylorubrum extorquens AM1 is an environmental isolate well adapted to thrive in copper-rich environments that could act as a reservoir of copper resistance genes. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CuCl2 were used to estimate the copper tolerance of eight plant-associated facultative diazotrophs (PAFD) and five pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) belonging to the order Rhizobiales presumed to come from nonclinical and nonmetal-polluted natural habitats based on their reported source of isolation. Their sequenced genomes were used to infer the occurrence and diversity of Cu-ATPases and the copper efflux resistome of Mr. extorquens AM1. These bacteria exhibited minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CuCl2 ranging between 0.020 and 1.9 mM. The presence of multiple and quite divergent Cu-ATPases per genome was a prevalent characteristic. The highest copper tolerance exhibited by Mr. extorquens AM1 (highest MIC of 1.9 mM) was similar to that found in the multimetal-resistant model bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 and in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. The genome-predicted copper efflux resistome of Mr. extorquens AM1 consists of five large (6.7 to 25.7 kb) Cu homeostasis gene clusters, three clusters share genes encoding Cu-ATPases, CusAB transporters, numerous CopZ chaperones, and enzymes involved in DNA transfer and persistence. The high copper tolerance and the presence of a complex Cu efflux resistome suggest the presence of relatively high copper tolerance in environmental isolates of Mr. extorquens.

Secondary metabolites from methylotrophic bacteria: their role in improving plant growth under a stressed environment.

Climate change is considered a natural disaster that causes the ecosystem to fluctuate and increase temperature, as well as the amount of UV radiation (UV-A and UV-B) on the Earth's surface. Consequently, greenhouse gases such as chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide have become obstacles to the development of sustainable agriculture. To overcome environmental stress such as phytopathogens, drought, salinity, heavy metals, and high-low temperatures, the utilization of microorganisms is a viable option. The synthesis of secondary metabolites by methylotrophic bacteria improves plant metabolism, enhances tolerance, and facilitates growth. The genus Methylobacterium is a pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs which abundantly colonizes plants, especially young leaves, owing to the availability of methanol. Secondary metabolites such as amino acids, carotenoids, hormones, antimicrobial compounds, and other compounds produced by methylotrophic bacteria enhance plant metabolism under stress conditions. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the role of secondary metabolites produced by methylotrophic bacteria and their role in promoting plant growth under stress.

Natural Occurrence of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic (PPFM)Bacteria on Phyllosphere of Mulberry (Morus Indica)

Natural Occurrence of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic (PPFM)Bacteria on Phyllosphere of Mulberry (Morus Indica)

Leaf Surface Colonizing Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs Harnessed for Their Plant Growth Promoting Traits

Leaf Surface Colonizing Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs Harnessed for Their Plant Growth Promoting Traits

Effect of soil moisture conservation practices and foliar fertilization on the performance of hybrid maize (Zea mays) under Cauvery Delta Zone of India

One of the crucial variables that affects the growth and yield of the maize crop is soil moisture. Soil mulching and foliar nutrition are significantly impacted by the absence of moisture in the soil, which has a favourable impact on the growth and yield of the crops. With this background, a field experiment was conducted during kharif 2020 at Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India to maximize the productivity and profitability of maize by adopting various soil moisture conservation techniques and foliar fertilization. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. The experiment consisted of two factors comprising soil moisture conservation techniques viz., sugarcane trash, water hyacinth, hydrogel and control (no mulch plot), and foliar nutrient management practice at both knee high and tasseling stages using 19 : 19 : 19 1%, DAP 1%+MOP 1%, PPFM (Pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs) 1%, 19 : 19 : 19 1%+PPFM 1%, DAP 1%+MOP 1%+PPFM 1% and control (no foliar nutrition). Among the soil moisture conservation techniques, the results indicated that mulching with water hyacinth registered significantly higher yield parameters, yield and economic returns than other techniques. With regards to foliar nutrients, foliar application of DAP 1%+MOP 1%+PPFM 1% (F6) exhibited higher yield parameters, yield and economic returns than other foliar nutrient treatments. Therefore, integration of soil moisture conservation techniques and foliar nutrients, mulching with water hyacinth and foliar application of DAP 1%+MOP 1%+PPFM 1% (M3F6) significantly produced higher yield parameters, yield and economic benefits in maize cultivation.

Efficiency of protectants in alleviating ozone stress on rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.)

Tropical countries like India, as a result of increased greenhouse gases like tropospheric ozone (O3), are concerned about a loss of agricultural output and food security. As a result, adopting a new method to protect crops against ozone is a must. The most efficient protectant is ethylene diurea (EDU), which is often used by researchers, however, the effectiveness of other protectants remains still unexplored. Hence, this study aims in screening the potential protectants in alleviating the ozone stress (100 ppb) in O3 sensitive rice cultivar in open top chambers. The protectants used includes neem coated urea (NCU), ascorbic acid (AsA), calcium acetate (CaAc), panchagavya, neem oil, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) and ethylene diurea (EDU). Results indicate that besides EDU, NCU and AsA were highly effective in mitigating O3 stress and were on par with each other. The application of protectants significantly improved the physiological, growth, and yield attributes; while, the malondialdehyde and proline content declined. The effect of protectants was relatively higher in O3 – sensitive cultivar. . The growth and yield traits were observed to be higher in EDU > NCU, AsA > CaAc > Panchagavya > Neem oil > PPFM. In O3 – sensitive cultivar, application of 300 ppm EDU, 1% NCU, and 1% AsA decreased the malondialdehyde content by 26.82, 26.92 and 27.47%, and proline by 18.64, 17.88 and 14.33%, respectively. Similarly, the application of 300 ppm EDU, 1% NCU and 1% AsA improved the number of spikelets per panicle by 69.09, 63.64 and 58.15% and the number of filled spikelets per panicle by 95.97, 95.35 and 93.02%, respectively. The present study concludes that NCU and AsA are the best alternatives to EDU for protecting plants against ozone stress.

​Physiological and Biochemical Characters of Blackgram as Influenced by Liquid Rhizobium with Organic Biostimulants

Background: The productivity of blackgram is not adequate to meet the domestic demand of the growing Indian population. Consequently, there is an urgent need for enhancement of productivity through proper management practices. With this background, a research experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of liquid rhizobium with organic bio-stimulants on physiological and biochemical characters, antioxidant enzymes and yield of blackgram. Methods: A field experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications during 2021 (Kharif and Rabi) season. The treatments include 100% recommended dose of NPK along with foliar application of dasagavya, liquid rhizobium, fish amino acid, panchagavya, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) and Sea weed extract with different concentration (1% and 3%, respectively) in addition to control. Organic bio stimulants were sprayed at 30 and 45 days after the sowing of blackgram. Result: The experiment results revealed that the application of 100% RDF+Liquid Rhizobium @ 1% registered maximum physiological and biochemical characters viz., CGR, total chlorophyll content, soluble protein content, nitrate reductase activity, catalase activity, peroxidase activity and number of root nodules plant-1, yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, grain yield (kg ha-1), haulm yield (kg ha-1). Correlation and Regression analysis also indicated that the yield attributes had a positive impact on the grain yield.

​Effect of Liquid Rhizobium with Organic Bio-stimulants on Growth, Yield Attributes and Yield of Leguminous Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper

Background: Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is one of the most important cultivated legume crops with high nutritive value and agricultural importance. The productivity of blackgram is not adequate to meet the domestic demand of the growing Indian population. Consequently, there is an urgent need for enhancement of productivity through proper agronomic practices. With this background, a research was conducted to investigate the effect of liquid rhizobium with organic bio-stimulants on growth, yield attributes, yield and economics of irrigated blackgram. Methods: A field experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications during 2021 (Kharif and Rabi) season. The treatments include 100% RDF foliar application of Dasagavya, liquid rhizobium, fish amino acid, panchagavya, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) and sea weed extract with different concentration (1% and 3%, respectively) in addition to control. Result: The experiment results revealed that the application of 100% RDF + liquid rhizobium @ 1% recorded higher growth characters viz., plant height (cm), number of branches plant-1, dry matter production (kg ha-1), leaf area index, yield attributes, grain and haulm yield (kg ha-1). Correlation and regression analysis also indicated that the yield attributes had a positive impact on the grain yield.

Effect of drought stress and its mitigating chemicals on aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation

Aerobic rice cultivation is a method of growing rice in well-drained, non-puddled and non-saturated soils using specifically developed varieties. It is the process of growing a crop from dry seeds put in the ground rather than transplanting seedlings from a nursery. Rice production is severely limited by drought stress during reproductive phase, which causes significant economic losses. Enhancing agricultural yield in the drought-prone rainfed areas has become necessary in consideration of the present and projected global food demand. A field experiment was conducted during summer 2022 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to study the effect of drought stress at reproductive stage and its growth and yield of aerobic rice. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. In main plot irrigation interval viz., irrigation @ IW/CPE 1.0 (M1), withholding irrigation for 8 days from heading (M2), with holding irrigation for 12 days from heading (M3) was adopted. In sub plot stress mitigating chemicals viz., salicylic acid @ 100 ppm (S2), sodium selenate @ 20 ppm (S3), Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotroph @ 1 per cent (S4) in comparison with control no spray (S1). The results revealed that irrigation @ IW/CPE 1.0 with foliar application of sodium selenate @ 20 ppm recorded higher grain yield (4146 kg ha-1) which was followed by drought stress for 8 days from heading with foliar spray of sodium selenate @ 20 ppm recorded the grain yield of 3461 kg ha-1. The application of sodium selenate @ 20 ppm at heading stage which results to mitigate the drought stress up to 8 days and the yield reduction is noticed only 16 per cent when compared to without drought stress.