ISSN:
1432-0789
Keywords:
Rhizosphere bacteria
;
Nitrogenase activity
;
Triticum aestivum
;
Inoculation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary Wheat seedlings were inoculated with rhizosphere nitrogen-fixing bacteria and grown gnotobiotically for 15 days. The growth medium consisted of semisolid agar with or without plant nutrients. The bacteria, isolated from roots of field-grown wheat, were three unidentified Gram-negative rods (A1, A2, E1), one Enterobacter agglomerans (C1) and two Bacillus polymyxa (B1, B2). A strain of Azospirillum brasilense (USA 10) was included for comparison. Nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction activity, ARA) was tested on intact plants after 8 and 15 days of growth. In semisolid agar without plant nutrients, five isolates showed ARA of 0.01–0.9 nmol C2H4 plant−1 h−1, while the two strains of B. polymyxa had higher ARA of 3.3–10.6 nmol C2H4 plant−1 h−1. Plant development was not affected by inoculation with bacteria, except that inoculation with B. polymyxa resulted in shorter shoots and lower root weight. Transmission electronmicroscopy of roots revealed different degrees of infection. A. brasilense, A1 and A2, occurred mainly in the mucilage on the root surface and between outer epidermal cells (low infectivity). B. polymyxa strains and E1 were found in and between epidermal cells (intermediate infectivity) while E. agglomerans invaded the cortex and was occasionally found within the stele (high infectivity).
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00301779
