Plant growth promotion of Miscanthus × giganteus by endophytic bacteria and fungi on non-polluted and polluted soils.

Putative endophytes of Miscanthus × giganteus were isolated, and screened in the laboratory, greenhouse and field for their plant growth promoting properties in this host. Pantoea ananatis and Pseudomonas savastanoi were the predominant bacteria in leaves whereas other pseudomonads prevailed in roots. Almost all fungal endophytes belonged to the Pezizomycotina and most were isolated from roots; Fusarium oxysporum was most abundant, followed by the genera Periconia, Exophiala, Microdochium and Leptodontidium. All endophytic groups produced phytohormones and some bacteria also produced siderophores, solubilised P and exhibited ACC-deaminase activity in vitro. In subsequent pot experiments with pre-selected endophytes, several isolates including pseudomonads, Variovorax paradoxus, Verticillium leptobactrum, Halenospora sp. and Exophiala sp. enhanced Miscanthus growth in gamma-sterilised soil. These promising Miscanthus-derived isolates were tested either as single or mixed inocula along with a mixed bacterial inoculum originating from poplar. No significant effects of inocula were detected in a pot experiment in non-sterilised soil. On two marginal field sites the mixture of bacterial endophytes from poplar had a consistently negative effect on survival and growth of Miscanthus. Contrarily, mixtures consisting of bacteria or fungi originating from Miscanthus promoted growth of their host, especially on the heavy metals-polluted site. The combination of bacteria and fungi was inferior to the mixtures consisting of bacteria or fungi alone. Our observations indicate extensive potential of mixed bacterial and fungal endophytic inocula to promote establishment and yield of Miscanthus grown on marginal and polluted land and emphasise the necessity to test particular microbial-plant host combinations. Morphotypes of fungi isolates from Miscanthus × giganteus.

Combined effects of fungal inoculants and the cytokinin-like growth regulator thidiazuron on growth, phytohormone contents and endophytic root fungi in Miscanthus × giganteus.

Aim of this study was to investigate main effects and interactions between symbiotic fungi and the cytokinin-like growth regulator thidiazuron (TDZ) in Miscanthus × giganteus. The arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Rhizophagus intraradices (AMF) and the endophyte Piriformospora indica (PI) were chosen as model symbionts. The fungal inoculants and TDZ had no significant effect on plant growth but modulated phytohormone levels in the leaves. TDZ induced accumulation of salicylic acid in controls, but not in plants inoculated with fungi. Leaf concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) derivatives, auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) precursors and catabolites and numerous cytokinins were increased by R. intraradices but lowered by P. indica. TDZ raised concentrations of ABA compounds, the non-indole auxin phenylacetic acid, jasmonate and some cytokinins, but decreased cis-zeatin and N6-(Δ2-isopentenyl)adenine levels. Inoculation with AMF reduced abundance of endogenous clampless endophytes. TDZ application strongly reduced formation of arbuscular mycorrhiza and increased occurrence of clamped mycelia (i.e. basidiomycetous endophytes). Our study provides a thorough outline of the phytohormone homeostasis under the combined influence of beneficial inoculants and a growth regulator, highlighting the necessity to study their interaction in the whole plant-microbial context.

PCR profiling of ammonia-oxidizer communities in acidic soils subjected to nitrogen and sulphur deposition.

Communities of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were characterized in two acidic soil sites experimentally subjected to varying levels of nitrogen and sulphur deposition. The sites were an acidic spruce forest soil in Deepsyke, Southern Scotland, with low background deposition, and a nitrogen-saturated upland grass heath in Pwllpeiran, North Wales. Betaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizer 16S rRNA and ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) genes were analysed by cloning, sequencing and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE profiles of amoA and 16S rRNA gene fragments from Deepsyke soil in 2002 indicated no effect of nitrogen deposition on AOB communities, which contained both Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrosospira. In 2003, only Nitrosospira could be detected, and no amoA sequences could be retrieved. These results indicate a decrease in the relative abundance of AOB from the year 2002 to 2003 in Deepsyke soil, which may be the result of the exceptionally low rainfall in spring 2003. Nitrosospira-related sequences from Deepsyke soil grouped in all clusters, including cluster 1, which typically contains only sequences from marine environments. In Pwllpeiran soil, 16S rRNA gene libraries were dominated by nonammonia oxidizers and no amoA sequences were detectable. This indicates that autotrophic AOB play only a minor role in these soils even at high nitrogen deposition.