A new isolation methodology for phosphate-solubilizing bacteria using a step-wise enrichment process.

Aims: Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) screened for their ability to solubilize Ca3(PO4)2 in a laboratory may not be effective in solubilizing phosphorus (P) in soils that contain different forms of P. We developed an efficient isolation method to obtain PSB from soils collected from diverse soil types that vary in P forms.

Methods And Results: PSB isolated through enrichment in media containing AlO4P, Ca3(PO4)2, or FeO4P as sole P sources were compared with a previous collection of Pseudomonas- and Bacillus-like bacteria that solubilized P.

Linking pod-set and seed yield of faba bean across organ, phytomer, plant and population scales.

Pod-set is the conversion of flowers to pods but its connection to crop yield of pulses must traverse scales of biological organisation; here we address scaling from organ to crop in faba bean. Our main hypothesis was that resources drive pod-set and crop yield of faba bean, whereas allocation to pods or between pods plays a minor role. We combined new field experiments and published data to test supporting hypotheses organised in four studies.

Seed-applied micronutrient toxicity to rhizobia and impaired legume nodulation.

Aims: Micronutrients are sometimes mixed with rhizobial inoculants in liquid solutions to promote the growth and development of legume crops. The compatibility of rhizobia with micronutrients is poorly documented. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of some frequently used micronutrients on rhizobial inoculant survival, nodulation, and nutrition of chickpea and field pea.

Chickpea displays a temporal growth response to Mesorhizobium strains under well-watered and drought conditions.

The relative performance of rhizobial strains could depend on their resource allocation, environmental conditions, and host genotype. Here, we used a high-throughput shoot phenotyping to investigate the effects of Mesorhizobium strain on the growth dynamics, nodulation and bacteroid traits with four chickpea (Cicer arietinum) varieties grown under different water regimes in an experiment including four nitrogen sources (two Mesorhizobium strains, and two uninoculated controls: nitrogen fertilised and unfertilised) under well-watered and drought conditions. We asked three questions.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Burkholderia vietnamiensis B418 inhibits root-knot nematode on watermelon by modifying the rhizosphere microbial community.

Burkholderia vietnamiensis B418 is a multifunctional plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strain with nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing capability which can be employed for root-knot nematode (RKN) management on various crops and vegetables. Here we investigated the control efficacy of B. vietnamiensis B418 inoculation against RKN on watermelon, applied either alone or combined with nematicides fosthiazate or avermectin, and their effects on bacterial and fungal microbiomes in rhizosphere soil.

Rhizobial diversity is associated with inoculation history at a two-continent scale.

A total of 120 Mesorhizobium strains collected from the central dry zone of Myanmar were analyzed in a pot experiment to evaluate nodulation and symbiotic effectiveness (SE%) in chickpea plants. Phylogenetic analyses revealed all strains belonged to the genus Mesorhizobium according to 16-23S rDNA IGS and the majority of chickpea nodulating rhizobia in Myanmar soils were most closely related to M. gobiense, M.

Ability to produce indole acetic acid is associated with improved phosphate solubilising activity of rhizobacteria.

Indole acetic acid (IAA) can upregulate genes encoding enzymes responsible for the synthesis of carboxylates involved in phosphorus (P) solubilisation. Here, we investigated whether IAA and its precursor affect the P-solubilising activity of rhizobacteria. A total of 841 rhizobacteria were obtained using taxonomically selective and enrichment isolation methods.

Nitrifying Microbes in the Rhizosphere of Perennial Grasses are Modified by Biological Nitrification Inhibition.

Soil nitrification (microbial oxidation of ammonium to nitrate) can lead to nitrogen leaching and environmental pollution. A number of plant species are able to suppress soil nitrifiers by exuding inhibitors from roots, a process called biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). However, the BNI activity of perennial grasses in the nutrient-poor soils of Australia and the effects of BNI activity on nitrifying microbes in the rhizosphere microbiome have not been well studied.

Inoculation Reduces the Incidence of Clubroot Disease in Chinese Cabbage by Regulating the Rhizosphere Microbial Community.

Clubroot is a disease of cruciferous crops that causes significant economic losses to vegetable production worldwide. We applied high-throughput amplicon sequencing technology to quantify the effect of LTR-2 inoculation on the rhizosphere community of Chinese cabbage ( subsp. cv.

Near-Complete Genomes of Two Species: A Resource for Biological Control of Plant Pathogens.

species are widely used to control fungal and nematode diseases of crops. To date, only one complete genome has been sequenced, QM6a, a model fungus for industrial enzyme production, while the species or strains used for biological control of plant diseases are only available as draft genomes. Previously, we demonstrated that two strains ( and ) provide effective control of nematode and fungal plant pathogens.

The preceding root system drives the composition and function of the rhizosphere microbiome.

Background: The soil environment is responsible for sustaining most terrestrial plant life, yet we know surprisingly little about the important functions carried out by diverse microbial communities in soil. Soil microbes that inhabit the channels of decaying root systems, the detritusphere, are likely to be essential for plant growth and health, as these channels are the preferred locations of new root growth. Understanding the microbial metagenome of the detritusphere, and how it responds to agricultural management such as crop rotations and soil tillage, is vital for improving global food production.

Plant Nitrogen and Phosphorus Resorption in Response to Varied Legume Proportions in a Restored Grassland.

An in-depth assessment of plant nutrient resorption can offer insights into understanding ecological processes and functional responses to biotic and abiotic changes in the environment. The legume proportion in a mixed grassland can drive changes in the soil environment and plant relationships, but little information is available regarding how the legume proportion influences plant nutrient resorption in mixed grasslands. In this study, three mixed communities of Leymus chinensis (Trin.

Long read reference genome-free reconstruction of a full-length transcriptome from reveals transcript variants involved in bioactive compound biosynthesis.

also known as Huangqi in China, is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine formulations from have been used to treat a wide range of illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, nephritis and cancers. Pharmacological studies have shown that immunomodulating, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral activities exist in the extract of .

Banksia species (Proteaceae) from severely phosphorus-impoverished soils exhibit extreme efficiency in the use and re-mobilization of phosphorus.

Banksia species (Proteaceae) occur on some of the most phosphorus (P)-impoverished soils in the world. We hypothesized that Banksia spp. maximize P-use efficiency through high photosynthetic P-use efficiency, long leaf lifespan (P residence time), effective P re-mobilization from senescing leaves, and maximizing seed P concentration.

Does phenotypic plasticity in carboxylate exudation differ among rare and widespread Banksia species (Proteaceae)?

Banksia species (Proteaceae) occur on some of the most phosphorus (P)-impoverished soils in the world. We hypothesized that plasticity in the exudation of P-mobilizing carboxylates would be greater in widespread than in rare Banksia species. Glasshouse experiments were conducted to identify and quantify carboxylate exudation in three widespread and six narrowly distributed Banksia species.

Root distributions of Australian herbaceous perennial legumes in response to phosphorus placement.

Many Australian plant species have specific root adaptations for growth in phosphorus-impoverished soils, and are often sensitive to high external P concentrations. The growth responses of native Australian legumes in agricultural soils with elevated P availability in the surface horizons are unknown. The aim of these experiments was to test the hypothesis that increased P concentration in surface soil would reduce root proliferation at depth in native legumes.