Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria Mixtures Research Articles

INOCULATION WITH N2-FIXING PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA TO REDUCE NITROGEN FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT OF LETTUCE

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of three different mixtures of some N2-fixing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth, yield, element content and nitrate accumulation as well as the effect on the reduction of nitrogen fertilization of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The measurements were made in two separate experiments in 2015 between 6 June – 5 August (Experiment 1) and 2 July – 3 September (Experiment 2) under the field conditions. Butterhead form and heat tolerant summer cultivar ‘Luna’ was used as a plant material. Agrobacterium rubi RK-34, Pantoea agglomerans RK-79 and RK-92, Pseudomonas putida RK-142 and TV-42A, Bacillus megaterium TV-6D, TV-60D and TV-91C, Pseudomonas flourescens TV-11D and Paenibacillus polymyxa TV-12E were used as N2-fixing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. The treatments were 150 kg N/ha (available dose of AS) as ammonium sulphate (AS) [(NH4)2SO4), (21% N)] and three different mixtures of PGPR. Further, combined uses of decreasing doses of AS (50%, 75 kg ha–1AS and 75%, 112.5 kg ha–1 AS) and PGPR mixtures (M) such as M-1 + 75 AS, M-1 + 112.5 AS, M-2 + 75 AS, M-2 + 112.5 AS, M-3 + 75 AS and M-3 + 112.5 AS were used as additional treatments. All treatments increased the yield and the growth of lettuce according to the control. While inoculation with PGPR mixtures decreased the accumulation of heavy metals such as Cd, Ni, and Pb in lettuce, increased nutrient uptake of lettuce. It was determined that the nitrate accumulation of lettuce (cv. ‘Luna’) in PGPR mixtures were lower than the available dose of AS but higher than control. The yield in M-3 + 112.5 AS (48431 kg ha–1) was similar and in the same statistical group with the available dose of AS (48225 kg ha–1) in both experiments. Furthermore, according to the results of cost analyses, using 25% less of AS (112.5 kg ha–1) with M-3 will supply the same income instead of using AS (150 kg ha–1). It can be clearly said that the mixtures with some N2-fixing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), especially M-3 (P. putida RK-142 + P. flourescens TV-11D + B. megaterium TV-91C), have a great potential to decrease the nitrogen use (25%) for environmentally friendly crop production of lettuce.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improve the growth and nutrient use efficiency in maize (Zea mays L.) under water deficit conditions

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses that affects crop yield worldwide. An eco-friendly tool that can broadly improve plants' tolerance to water stress is bioionocula comprising plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study, the effect of two PGPR Cupriavidus necator 1C2 (B1) and Pseudomonas fluorescens S3X (B2), singly and/or co-inoculated at two inocula sizes (S1 - 3 × 103 cells g−1 dry weight (dw) soil and S2 - 3 × 106 cells g−1 dw soil), on growth, nutrient uptake, and use efficiency was assessed in maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown at three levels of irrigation (80% of water holding capacity (WHC) – well-watered, 60% of WHC - moderate water deficit stress, and 40% of WHC - severe water deficit stress) in a greenhouse experiment. The impact of water deficit and bioinoculants on soil microbial activity (fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) was also evaluated.Moderate and severe water deficit negatively affected soil microbial activity, as well as, maize growth, by reducing plants' shoot biomass and increasing root/shoot ratio at 60 and 40% of WHC. Bioinoculants mitigated the negative effects on shoot biomass, especially when PGPR were co-inoculated, increasing up to 89% the aerial biomass of plants exposed to moderate water deficit. Bioinoculation also increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) use efficiency, which may have led to higher maize growth under water deficit conditions. The size of the inocula applied had marginal influence on biometric and nutrient parameters, although the higher concentration of the mixture of PGPR was the most effective in improving shoot biomass under moderate water deficit.This study shows that rhizobacterial strains are able to increase nutrient use efficiency and to alleviate water stress effects in crops with high water demands and have potential applications to keep up with productivity in water stress scenarios.

Synergistic effect of organo-mineral amendments and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the establishment of vegetation cover and amelioration of mine tailings

Mine tailings pose a huge hazard for environmental and human health, and the establishment of vegetation cover is crucial to reduce pollutant dispersion for the surroundings. However, their hostile physicochemical conditions hamper plant growth, compromising phytoremediation strategies. This study aims to investigate the role of organo-mineral amendments and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the improvement of mine tailings properties and Lolium perenne L. (ryegrass) growth. Plants were grown in mine tailings mixed with an agricultural soil (1:1), 10% compost, and supplied with two different inorganic amendments – rock phosphate (6%) or lime (3%), and inoculated with the rhizobacterial strains Advenellakashmirensis BKM20 (B1) and Mesorhizobium tamadayense BKM04 (B2). The application of organo-mineral amendments ameliorated tailings characteristics, which fostered plant growth and further enhanced soil fertility and microbial activity. These findings were consistent with the increase of total organic carbon levels, with the higher numbers of heterotrophic and phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and higher dehydrogenase and urease activities, found in these substrates after plant establishment. Plant growth was further boosted by PGPR inoculation, most noticeable by co-inoculation of both strains. Moreover, inoculated plants showed increased activities for several antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, and glutathione reductase) which indicate a reinforced antioxidant system.The application of agricultural soil, compost and lime associated with the inoculation of a mixture of PGPR proved to enhance the establishment of vegetation cover, thus promoting the stabilization of Kettara mine tailings. Nonetheless, further studies are needed in order to confirm its effectiveness under field conditions.

Effectiveness of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) to control gall rust of Falcataria moluccana under field conditions

Gall rust caused by Uromycladium spp. is a most devastating disease of Falcataria moluccana plantations in Indonesia since a decade. There is no effective control measures to suppress rust gall disease. The objectives of the research was to investigate the effectiveness of PGPR on seedlings growth, gall rust severity and growth of young Falcataria moluccana trees. Talc-based powder formulation of PGPR mixtures of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus polymixa and Rhizobium spp. was used. First experiment consisted of testing as a seed treatment by PGPR using four concentrations of PGPR i.e. 0 (untreated), 2.5 g/L, 5 g/Land 10 g/L equal to 1.25 x 106 cfu/L, 2.5 106 cfu/L and 5 x 106 cfu/L. Emergence rate and seedlings growth were evaluated. Second experiment was a field trial using young three months age-seedlings trees under pathogen natural infestation, designed as a complete randomized block design with six replications. Treatments were PGPR 2.5 106 cfu/kg and 5 x 106 cfu/kg, untreated and mancozeb fungicide. Powder formulation of PGPR was mixed with granule NPK fertilizer and applied as soil incorporation at planting date and 42 days after transplanting. Disease severity, plant height and stem diameter were observed weekly at 1 to 11 week after transplanting. Seed treatment with all concentration of PGPR did not affect germination rate, but increased seedlings growth. Moreover, field application of PGPR at the rate of 5 x 106 cfu/kg in PGPR-NPK fertilizer mixture was the best treatment to control galll rust of young plants under field conditions with an effectiveness rate of 42.28%, compared to fungicide treatments which has effectivenes rate of 34.39%. The treatments also enhanced the growth of young plants.

Influence of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Corn Growth under Drought Stress

ABSTRACTWater availability is a major constraint affecting the growth and yield of crops/plants worldwide. Some studies have shown that specific strains of free-living bacteria found in the plant rhizosphere can improve the tolerance of plants during water stress. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effects of two mixtures of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and two fertilizer sources on root establishment and biomass production of corn (Zea mays L.) during the early growth stages under drought conditions. This study was conducted as a randomized complete block design with five replications. Treatments included three irrigation levels (watering every 3, 6, and 12 days), two fertilizer materials (poultry litter and urea), and two PGPR strain mixtures and a non-inoculated control. Irrigation significantly affected plant growth and biomass accumulation of corn at the V6 to VT stages. Compared to poultry litter, urea application significantly increased plant height, leaf chlorophyll (SPAD readings), leaf area, and plant biomass. PGPR significantly improved plant height, stem diameter, leaf chlorophyll, and root morphology under drought stress conditions. The results demonstrate that PGPR inoculation can stimulate enhanced plant root development (through the production of plant growth regulators), thereby resulting in better absorption of water and nutrients from the soil.

Use of Rhizobacteria and Mycorrhizae Consortium in the Open Field as a Strategy for Improving Crop Nutrition, Productivity and Soil Fertility.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their beneficial effects. In recent years, more attention has been paid to their use as biofertilizers to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers causing significant damage to the environment. To have high plant yields, biofertilizers may not be able to sustain plant demands and could be used in combination with chemical fertilizers. However, the application of biofertilizers in the field such as rhizobacteria and AMF are understudied and powerfully needed. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the effect of inoculation with rhizobacteria and AMF and their potential to stimulate two of the most economically important crops in Mediterranean semi-arid areas (Vicia faba L. and Triticum durum L.). The effect of inoculation was studied in field experiment with six treatments: (i) the control without inoculation (C), (ii) PGPR alone (PG), (iii) rhizobia alone (R), (iv) the mixture of PGPR and rhizobia (PR), (v) AMF alone (M), and (vi) the mixture of PGPR, rhizobia and AMF (PRM). The inoculation with the consortium of PGPR-rhizobia-AMF (PRM) induced the greatest effect. This inoculation improved the growth parameters (dry weight of shoots and roots) of faba bean and wheat. An improvement of 130, 200, and 78% was observed in V. faba shoot and root dry weight, and the number of leaves, respectively. Similarly, shoot and root dry weight and number of leaves of T. durum were enhanced by 293, 258, and 87%, respectively. The inoculation improved the productivity of studied plants presented by the number and weight of bean pods (270 × 104 ha-1 and 30737.5 kg.ha-1) and wheat spikes (440 × 104 ha-1 and 10560 kg.ha-1). In addition, the mineral analyses showed that the inoculation with PGPR-rhizobia-mycorrhizae improved N, P, Ca, K, and Na shoots contents, as well as the contents of sugar and proteins. Finally, we revealed the positive impact of the tested biofertilizers and the interest of adoption of innovative practices improving crops productivity and soil fertility.

Effect of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria at Various Nitrogen Rates on Corn Growth

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) colonize plant roots and promote plant growth by producing and secreting various chemical regulators in the rhizosphere. With the recent interest in sustainable agriculture, an increasing number of researchers are investigating ways to improve the efficiency of PGPR use to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs needed for crop production. Accordingly, greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of PGPR inoculants on biomass production and nitrogen (N) content of corn (Zea mays L.) under different N levels. Treatments included three PGPR inoculants (two mixtures of PGPR strains and one control without PGPR) and five N application levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended N rate of 135 kg N ha−1). Results showed that inoculation of PGPR significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and root morphology of corn compared to no PGPR application under the same N levels at the V6 growth stage, but few differences were observed at the V4 stage. PGPR with 50% of the full N rate produced corn biomass and N concentrations equivalent to or greater than that of the full N rate without inoculants at the VT stage. In conclusion, mixtures of PGPR can potentially reduce inorganic N fertilization without affecting corn plant growth parameters. Future research is needed under field conditions to determine if these PGPR inoculants can be integrated as a bio-fertilizer in crop production nutrient management strategies.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria induce changes in Arabidopsis thaliana gene expression of nitrate and ammonium uptake genes

ABSTRACT Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant growth under the influence of multigenic processes, including nitrate () and ammonium () uptake genes, which could potentially explain the improvement in plant nutrition and plant growth promotion. Studies on the effects of PGPR inoculation on regulation of and plant uptake genes and nutrient accumulation using soil or soil-like substrates are limited. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the application of PGPR Bacillus mixtures increases overall plant growth, nutrient uptake and the transcript levels of nitrate and ammonium uptake genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. All three PGPR mixtures tested in this study significantly increased plant shoot fresh weight, root fresh, chlorophyll content, nutrient uptake and plant diameter. The transcript levels of five nitrate and four ammonium uptake genes were significantly higher in PGPR-treated plants compared to untreated plants. These results demonstrate that plant growth promotion and enhanced nutrient uptake by select PGPR mixtures.

Influence of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth. cv. thornless) growth under semi-cover and field conditions

Este estudio muestra el efecto de tres cepas de rizobacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal (PGPR) del género Bacillus sobre el desarrollo de la mora (Rubus glaucus Benth) bajo condiciones de semitecho y libre exposición (sistemas de cultivo). La cepa endógena Bacillus subtilis GIBI-200, B. pumilus GIBI-206, su mezcla (B. subtilis GIBI-200 + B. pumilus GIBI-206) y la cepa comercial B. subtilis QTS-713 se compararon con la fertilización mineral convencional (Control) en cada sistema de cultivo. El sistema a libre exposición presentó valores más altos (P <0.001) que el semitecho en: número total de ramas (7.32), número de ramas productivas (7.0), flores por racimo (26.2) y menor porcentaje de ramas improductivas (6.1%). Se obtuvo diferencias significativas (P <0.05) en el número total de ramas a través del tiempo como efecto las cepas bacterianas. No obstante, la última observación de esta variable no presentó diferencias estadísticas entre cepas y fertilización mineral. No se observaron diferencias significativas en términos de número, longitud, diámetro y flores en las ramas productivas como efecto de las cepas bacterianas y el Control. B. subtilis GIBI-200 + B. pumilus GIBI-206 mostró un comportamiento estadístico similar comparado con la fertilización mineral en el número de racimos (8.3) y porcentaje de ramas improductivas (11.1%). Además, GIBI-200 + GIBI-206, a pesar de la igualdad estadística, expuso mayores valores que las cepas individuales. El sistema a libre exposición sigue siendo la alternativa más prometedora para el desarrollo de cultivos de mora y PGPR actúan como biofertilizantes permitiendo lograr efectos en el crecimiento a largo plazo de mora similar a la fertilización mineral. Las mezclas de PGPR pueden producir un efecto sinérgico y nuevas combinaciones deben ser evaluadas en futuros estudios.

Seed inoculation with beneficial rhizobacteria affects European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) oviposition on maize plants

AbstractLarvae of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) cause significant damage to maize ears and reduce market value of fresh sweet corn. Females rely on volatile cues to locate and oviposit preferentially on maize plants. In addition, oviposition behavior of females is influenced by soil management practices as they usually lay more eggs on maize plants grown on conventional soil than on organic soils that harbor rich microbial diversity. Since some plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to mediate plant health via suppression of soil pathogens and enhanced uptake of nutrients; we hypothesized that inoculation of maize seeds with PGPR will alter emission of maize volatile and reduce the attractiveness of plants to ovipositing O. nubilalis. Plants treated with the single PGPR strain Bacillus pumilus INR‐7, two PGPR mixtures (Blend‐8 or Blend‐9) or untreated plants were presented to O. nubilalis females in oviposition choice bioassays. Headspace volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the plants were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Ostrinia nubilalis laid significantly fewer eggs on PGPR‐treated plants compared to untreated plants. In two‐choice oviposition experiments, significantly higher numbers of eggs were laid on untreated plants compared to PGPR‐treated plants. PGPR‐treated plants emitted fewer VOCs than untreated plants which, in part, explains the relatively fewer eggs on PGPR‐treated plants. These results indicate that selected PGPR treatments can alter maize plant volatiles with important ramifications for plant‐insect interactions. The implication of this finding is discussed in the context of integrated management of soil health to improve crop resistance to biotic stressors.

Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to control Papaya ringspot virus and Tomato chlorotic spot virus

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W) and Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) are responsible for severe losses in cucurbits and tomato production in south Florida and other regions in the USA. Traditional chemicals are not effective to control these viruses. Using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may present an alternative to control these viruses. Results from this study demonstrated that applying mixtures of PGPR strains is more efficient to control PRSV-W and TCSV compared to individual PGPR strain only. The application method significantly affected the efficiency of PGPR to control PRSV-W and TCSV. The highest reduction in disease severity of both PRSV-W and TCSV occurred in case of soil drenching with PGPR, followed by root dipping and seed coating treatments. Application of PGPR mixtures of (IN937a & SE34) or (IN937a &, SE34 & T4) were the most efficient methods to control these viral diseases.

Antagonism of black rot in cabbage by mixtures of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)

Black rot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae), is the most important and potentially destructive disease of cabbage. Twenty-three plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains were tested for antibiosis against Xcc in vitro. Seven strains with antibiosis activity significantly reduced disease in the greenhouse. Two mixtures of PGPR strains and four individual strains were then tested three times in the greenhouse and one time in the field. In the greenhouse test, all treatments resulted in significant disease suppression. Mixture-2 and strain AP218 caused the highest and most consistent disease reduction in two of the three trials. In the field test, both mixtures and two individual strains significantly reduced disease incidence and disease severity. In conclusion, mixture-2 exhibited consistent biocontrol of black rot of cabbage.

Rhizobacterial Inoculants Increase Root and Shoot Growth in ‘Tifway’ Hybrid Bermudagrass

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are non-pathogenic, beneficial bacteria that colonize seeds and roots of plants and enhance plant growth. Although there has been extensive PGPR research with agronomic crops, there has been little emphasis on development of PGPR for grasses in pastures or as turf. Accordingly, experiments were conducted to evaluate novel bacterial inoculants for growth promotion in ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass. Replicated laboratory and greenhouse experiments evaluated effects of various PGPR mixtures, each with 3 to 5 PGPR strains and applied as weekly root inoculations, in comparison to nontreated plants. Growth promotion was assessed by measuring foliar growth from 3 to 8 wk and root growth at 8 wk after the first treatment. In all experiments, at least one bacterial treatment of bermudagrass resulted in significantly increased top growth and greater root growth (length, surface area, volume, or dry weight). PGPR blends 20 and MC3 caused the greatest growth promotion of roots and shoots. These results suggest that the bacterial strains could be used in strategies to reduce nitrogen or water inputs to turf.

A plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) mixture does not display synergistic effects, likely by biofilm but not growth inhibition

Combination of different PGPR strains with complementary characteristics as a mixture to reduce possible instability under fluctuating environment has been considered practical. However, PGPR mixtures do not always play synergistic roles in growth promotion or biological control as reflected in our previous findings and other publications. In this work, we accidentally discovered that a mixture containing two well compatible PGPR strains, Bacillus pumilus WP8 and Erwinia persicinus RA2, did not synergize in growth promotion or biological control of tomato bacterial wilt under field conditions. Considering the importance of PGPR biofilm formation in growth promotion and biocontrol activities, we hypothesized that this phenomenon may be related to inhibition of biofilm formation. In vitro experiments showed that biofilm-formation ability of WP8 was inhibited by both RA2 cells and filtered supernatants collected from RA2 cultures at 12 h (RA2-12) rather than 48 h (RA2-48), even at high-temperatures (within 100°C). An in vivo experiment derived from crystal violet staining yielded similar results. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), we compared primary and secondary metabolites of RA2 (namely RA2-12 and RA2-48) and found D-glutamine, abundant in RA2-12, as the putative inhibitory factor. Trace amounts of jasmonic acid together with viscous extracellular polysaccharides in RA2-48 likely promoted the rescue of robust biofilm formation. This work suggests that inhibition of biofilm formation should be considered in PGPR mixture development.

Biological control and plant growth promoting capacity of rhizobacteria on pepper under greenhouse and field conditions

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Ochrobactrum lupini KUDC1013 and Novosphingobium pentaromativorans KUDC1065 isolated from Dokdo Island, S. Korea are capable of eliciting induced systemic resistance (ISR) in pepper against bacterial spot disease. The present study aimed to determine whether plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains including strain KUDC1013, strain KUDC1065, and Paenibacillus polymyxa E681 either singly or in combinations were evaluated to have the capacity for potential biological control and plant growth promotion effect in the field trials. Under greenhouse conditions, the induced systemic resistance (ISR) effect of treatment with strains KUDC1013 and KUDC1065 differed according to pepper growth stages. Drenching of 3-week-old pepper seedlings with the KUDC-1013 strain significantly reduced the disease symptoms. In contrast, treatment with the KUDC1065 strain significantly protected 5-week-old pepper seedlings. Under field conditions, peppers treated with PGPR mixtures containing E681 and KUDC1013, either in a two-way combination, were showed greater effect on plant growth than those treated with an individual treatment. Collectively, the application of mixtures of PGPR strains on pepper might be considered as a potential biological control under greenhouse and field conditions.

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Allow Reduced Application Rates of Chemical Fertilizers

The search for microorganisms that improve soil fertility and enhance plant nutrition has continued to attract attention due to the increasing cost of fertilizers and some of their negative environmental impacts. The objectives of this greenhouse study with tomato were to determine (1) if reduced rates of inorganic fertilizer coupled with microbial inoculants will produce plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake levels equivalent to those with full rates of the fertilizer and (2) the minimum level to which fertilizer could be reduced when inoculants were used. The microbial inoculants used in the study were a mixture of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IN937a and Bacillus pumilus T4, a formulated PGPR product, and the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF), Glomus intraradices. Results showed that supplementing 75% of the recommended fertilizer rate with inoculants produced plant growth, yield, and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) uptake that were statistically equivalent to the full fertilizer rate without inoculants. When inoculants were used with rates of fertilizer below 75% of the recommended rate, the beneficial effects were usually not consistent; however, inoculation with the mixture of PGPR and AMF at 70% fertility consistently produced the same yield as the full fertility rate without inoculants. Without inoculants, use of fertilizer rates lower than the recommended resulted in significantly less plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake or inconsistent impacts. The results suggest that PGPR-based inoculants can be used and should be further evaluated as components of integrated nutrient management strategies.

Management of resident plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria with the cropping system: a review of experience in the US Pacific Northwest

In view of the inconsistent performance of single or mixtures of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains formulated for commercial use, and the high cost of regulatory approval for either a proprietary strain intended for disease control or a crop plant transformed to express a disease-suppressive or other growth-promoting PGPR trait, management of resident PGPR with the cropping system remains the most practical and affordable strategy available for use of these beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms in agriculture. A cropping system is defined as the integration of management (agricultural) practices and plant genotypes (species and varieties) to produce crops for particular end-uses and environmental benefits. The build-up in response to monoculture cereals of specific genotypes of Pseudomonas fluorescens with ability to inhibit Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici by production of 2,4-diacetylphoroglucinol (DAPG), accounting for take-all decline in the US Pacific Northwest, illustrates what is possible but apparently not unique globally. Other crops or cropping systems enrich for populations of the same or other genotypes of DAPG-producing P. fluorescens or, possibly and logically, genotypes with ability to produce one or more of the five other antibiotic or antibiotic-like substances inhibitory to other soilborne plant pathogens. In the U.S Pacific Northwest, maintenance of threshold populations of resident PGPR inhibitory to G. graminis var. tritici is the centerpiece of an integrated system used by growers to augment take-all decline while also limiting damage caused by pythium and rhizoctonia root rot and fusarium root and crown rot in the direct-seed (no-till) cereal-intensive cropping systems while growing varieties of these cereals (winter and spring wheat, barley and triticale) fully susceptible to all four root diseases.

Broad-Spectrum Protection Against Several Pathogens by PGPR Mixtures Under Field Conditions in Thailand.

Prior greenhouse experiments showed that four mixtures of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains (all Bacillus spp.) elicited induced systemic resistance in several plants against different plant pathogens. Based on these findings, we sought to determine if systemic resistance induced by these PGPR would lead to broad-spectrum protection against several pathogens under field conditions in Thailand. Experiments were conducted during the rainy season (July to October 2001) and winter season (November 2001 to February 2002) on the campus of Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. The specific diseases and hosts tested were southern blight of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, anthracnose of long cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum) caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and mosaic disease of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) caused by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Results showed that some PGPR mixtures suppressed disease more consistently than the individual PGPR strain IN937a. One PGPR mixture, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a + B. pumilus strain IN937b, significantly protected (P = 0.05) plants against all tested diseases in both seasons. Further, cumulative marketable yields were positively correlated with some treatments.

Mixtures of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for induction of systemic resistance against multiple plant diseases

Studies of induced systemic resistance using strains of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have concentrated on the use of individual PGPR as inducers against multiple diseases of a single crop. To date, few reports have examined the potential of PGPR strain mixtures to induce systemic resistance against diseases of several different plant hosts. The objective of this study was to select mixtures of compatible PGPR strains with the capacity to elicit induced systemic resistance in four hosts. The specific diseases and hosts tested in this study included: bacterial wilt of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum , anthracnose of long cayenne pepper ( Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum ) caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , damping off of green kuang futsoi ( Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis ) caused by Rhizoctonia solani , and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ). To examine compatibility, seven selected PGPR strains were individually tested for in vitro antibiosis against all other PGPR strains and against three of the tested pathogens ( R. solanacearum , C. gloeosporioides , and R. solani ). No in vitro antibiosis was observed among PGPR strains or against pathogens. Twenty-one combinations of PGPR and seven individual PGPR were tested in the greenhouse for induced resistance activity. Results indicated that four mixtures of PGPR and one individual strain treatment significantly reduced the severity of all four diseases compared to the nonbacterized control: 11 mixtures reduced CMV of cucumber, 16 mixtures reduced bacterial wilt of tomato, 18 mixtures reduced anthracnose of long cayenne pepper, and 7 mixtures reduced damping off of green kuang futsoi. Most mixtures of PGPR provided a greater disease suppression than individual PGPR strains. These results suggest that mixtures of PGPR can elicit induced systemic resistance to fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases in the four hosts tested.