M. Chanratana

Expression of an exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase gene in psychrotolerant bacteria modulates ethylene metabolism and cold induced genes in tomato under chilling stress.

The role of stress induced ethylene under low temperature stress has been controversial and hitherto remains unclear. In the present study, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD) gene, acdS expressing mutant strains were generated from ACCD negative psychrotolerant bacterial strains Flavobacterium sp. OR306 and Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis OS211, isolated from agricultural soil during late winter. After transformation with plasmid pRKACC which contained the acdS gene, both the strains were able to exhibit ACCD activity in vitro. The effect of this ACCD under chilling stress with regards to ethylene was studied in tomato plants inoculated with both acdS expressing and wild type bacteria. On exposing the plants to one week of chilling treatment at 12/10 °C, it was found that stress ethylene, ACC accumulation and ACO activity which are markers of ethylene stress, were significantly reduced in plants inoculated with the acdS gene transformed mutants. In case of plants inoculated with strain OS211-acdS, ethylene emission, ACC accumulation and ACO activity was significantly reduced by 52%, 75.9% and 23.2% respectively compared to uninoculated control plants. Moreover, expression of cold induced LeCBF1 and LeCBF3 genes showed that these genes were significantly induced by the acdS transformed mutants in addition to reduced expression of ethylene-responsive transcription factor 13 (ETF-13) and ACO genes. Induced expression of LeCBF1 and LeCBF3 in plants inoculated with acdS expressing mutants compared to wild type strains show that physiologically evolved stress ethylene and its transcription factors play a role in regulation of cold induced genes as reported earlier in the literature.

Trap Culture Technique for Propagation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi using Different Host Plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore propagation and long term maintenance is still a complicated technique for farmers. The use of AMF for their ability to promote plant growth and protect plants against pathogen attack and environmental stresses demands AMF propagation for large scale application. This study aimed to propagate AMF spores by trap culture technique and assess their ability to propagate with different host plants in a continuous plant cycle. Mycorrhizal inoculation by trap culture in maize resulted in longer shoots and roots than sudangrass plants. Increase in dry weight with higher percentage also was observed for maize plants. After first and second plant cycle, maize plants had the higher percentage of mycorrhizal response in terms of colonization and arbuscules than sudangrass. Maximum in spore count also achieved in the pots of maize plants. The results show that maize plant is more suitable host plant for AMF spore propagation and trap culture technique can be used effectively to maintain the AMF culture for long time.

Evaluation of chitosan and alginate immobilized Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20 on tomato plant growth

ABSTRACT Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20, a promising plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and a biocontrol agent, was immobilized in different formulations such as wet chitosan, dry chitosan, wet alginate and dry alginate and were tested for tomato plant growth promotion. Chitosan solution (1.5%) with pH 5.5–6.0 and 90 min contact time was found optimal for immobilization. The chitosan formulations showed better entrapment efficiency and good degradability resistance apart from slow release of cells under prolonged incubation. Survivability of bacteria (80%) was observed in wet chitosan formulation even after 90 days of storage at 4°C. The spermosphere survival of bacteria was high in both dry and wet chitosan formulations applied soils even after 21 days under greenhouse conditions. While the alginate formulation degraded fully, partial degradation of chitosan formulation was observed even after 30 days, indicating its ability to support the survival of M. oryzae CBMB20 in soil. Plants inoculated with wet chitosan formulation registered 1.3 fold increase in the shoot and root length and dry weight compared to other treatments. Hence, chitosan formulation supporting better plant growth compared to alginate will be a better carrier for taking bacteria to the plant rhizosphere and thereby promote plant growth.

Halotolerant Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Mediated Salinity Stress Amelioration in Plants

Soil salinization refers to the buildup of salts in soil to a level toxic to plants. The major factors that contribute to soil salinity are the quality, the amount and the type of irrigation water used. The presented review discusses the different sources and causes of soil salinity. The effect of soil salinity on biological processes of plants is also discussed in detail. This is followed by a debate on the influence of salt on the nutrient uptake and growth of plants. Salinity decreases the soil osmotic potential and hinders water uptake by the plants. Soil salinity affects the plants K uptake, which plays a critical role in plant metabolism due to the high concentration of soluble sodium (Na + ) ions. Visual symptoms that appear in the plants as a result of salinity include stunted plant growth, marginal leaf necrosis and fruit distortions. Different strategies to ameliorate salt stress globally include breeding of salt tolerant cultivars, irrigation to leach excessive salt to improve soil physical and chemical properties. As part of an ecofriendly means to alleviate salt stress and an increasing considerable attention on this area, the review then focuses on the different plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) mediated mechanisms with a special emphasis on ACC deaminase producing bacteria. The various strategies adopted by PGPB to alleviate various stresses in plants include the production of different osmolytes, stress related phytohormones and production of molecules related to stress signaling such as bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate(ACC) derivatives. The use of PGPB with ACC deaminase producing trait could be effective in promoting plant growth in agricultural areas affected by different stresses including salt stress. Finally, the review ends with a discussion on the various PGPB activities and the potentiality of facultative halophilic/halotolerant PGPB in alleviating salt stress.