Genome analysis and plant growth promoting activity of Pseudonocardia strain DR1-2 from the root of Dendrobium christyanum Rchb.f

Aims@#The objective of this study was to analyze the genome of endophytic actinomycete associated with orchids and evaluate its plant hormone activities, including phytohormone, siderophore, ammonia production, zinc and phosphate solubilization.@*Methodology and results@#Strain DR1-2 isolated from the roots of the Thai orchid, Dendrobium christyanum Rchb.f., was closely related to Pseudonocardia alni DSM 44104T, P. antarctica DSM 44749T and P. carboxydivorans Y8T (99.93-100% similarity) based 16S rRNA gene sequence. This strain exhibited IAA production (294.10 ± 12.17 μg/mL), phosphate solubilization (2.20 ± 0.08 solubilization Index, SI), positive for siderophore production and ammonia production (36.99 ± 2.24 μg/mL). It showed a maximum IAA of 489.73 ± 8.90 μg/mL, when optimized using 0.5% Ltryptophan, pH 6 and incubated at 30 °C for 7 days. The IAA of strain enhanced the root length, shoot length, number of roots and fresh weight of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. RD49). The draft genome of strain DR1-2 was 6,077,423 bp in 23 contigs with G+C content of 74.6%. The average nucleotide identity-Blast (ANIb) and average nucleotide identity-MUMmer (ANIm) values of strain DR1-2 and related type strains were 95.81 to 97.25% and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 72.60 to 74.00%, respectively. Genomic analysis of strain DR1-2 revealed that the gene encodes the enzyme involved in the phytohormones biosynthesis and gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Endophytic actinomycete, Pseudonocardia strain DR1-2 from Thai orchid, D. christyanum Rchb.f., exhibited significant IAA production and affected the growth of the plant, which was the potential source of plant hormones for agricultural applications.

Identification and characterization of plant growth-promoting properties of bacterial endophytes from selected Zingiberaceae plants

Aims@#This study aims to isolate, characterize and screen the plant growth-promoting bacteria from Zingiberaceae plants. Plant promoting activities such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, zinc solubilization and nitrogen-fixing capabilities are determined, and the IAA production of selected isolates are optimized. @*Methodology and results@#Endophytic bacteria were isolated from the plant samples by surface sterilization on nutrient agar (NA) plates and incubated at 30 °C for 2-3 days. The bacteria were identified based on their phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. All isolates were identified as genera Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, Kerstersia, Klebsiella and Brucella. The isolates exhibited phosphate solubilization (1.5 ± 0.75-37.5 ± 8.75 Solubilization Index, SI), zinc solubilization (2.5 ± 0-60 ± 1.5 SI) and IAA production (0.1 ± 0.2-115.7 ± 1.6 µg/mL), while 3 isolates possessed nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Five isolates (PHAS-2, PWS-2, PWR-2, PHBS-2 and SCG-2) were selected for IAA optimization. Isolate PWR-2 produced the maximum IAA at 447.7 ± 0 µg/mL when tryptophan concentration was maintained at 1.0%.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Genera of bacteria included Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, Kerstersia, Klebsiella and Brucella were successfully isolated from Zingiberaceae plants. All the isolates showed the capability to produce IAA, while some isolates exhibited phosphate solubilization and zinc solubilization, and a few possessed nitrogen-fixing capabilities. The potential IAA production isolates could be applied for the enhancement of agricultural production that will be becoming a more widely accepted practice.

Aspergillus clavatus Y2H0002 as a New Endophytic Fungal Strain Producing Gibberellins Isolated from Nymphoides pe ltata in Fresh Water

Eighteen endophytic fungi with different colony morphologies were isolated from the roots of Nymphoides peltata growing in the Dalsung wetland. The fungal culture filtrates of the endophytic fungi were treated to Waito-c rice seedling to evaluate their plant growth-promoting activities. Culture filtrate of Y2H0002 fungal strain promoted the growth of the Waito-c rice seedlings. This strain was identified on the basis of sequences of the partial internal transcribed spacer region and the partial beta-tubulin gene. Upon chromatographic analysis of the culture filtrate of Y2H0002 strain, the gibberellins (GAs: GA1, GA3, and GA4) were detected and quantified. Molecular and morphological studies identified the Y2H0002 strain as belonging to Aspergillus clavatus. These results indicated that A. clavatus improves the growth of plants and produces various GAs, and may participate in the growth of plants under diverse environmental conditions.