Endophytic colonization of Typha australis by a plant growth-promoting bacterium Klebsiella oxytoca strain GR-3.
OBJECTIVE
To isolate and characterize endophytic diazotrophic bacteria from a semi-aquatic grass (Typha australis) which grows luxuriantly with no addition of any nitrogen source.


RESULTS
Ten endophytic diazotrophic bacteria from surface-sterilized roots and culm of T. australis were isolated and screened for plant growth-promoting activities employing standard methods. Based on the rate of nitrogenase activity, indole acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate (P) solubilization, one root isolate namely GR-3 was found to be the most efficient one. This isolate was identified as Klebsiella oxytoca on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Amplification of nifH by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and detection of dinitrogenase reductase by western blot confirmed the diazotrophic nature of GR-3. It was tagged with gusA fused to a constitutive promoter and the resulting transconjugant was inoculated onto endophyte-free rice variety Malviya dhan-36 seedlings to express cross-infection ability which resulted in a significant increase in root/shoot length and chlorophyll a content.


CONCLUSIONS
Roots and culm of T. australis harbour several endophytic diazotrophic bacteria. One root isolate, identified as K. oxytoca GR-3, seems to be an efficient plant growth-promoting bacterium.


CONCLUSIONS
Plant growth-promoting properties of GR-3 suggest that this promising isolate merits further investigations for potential application in agriculture.
Jha
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Microbial Biotechnology Unit, School of Biotechnology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India.
Kumar
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A
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005516:Food Microbiology; D041121:Klebsiella oxytoca / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D012275:Oryza / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012995:Solubility; D032401:Typhaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010710:Phosphates; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D009591:Nitrogenase; D019342:Acetic Acid