title: Hydrocarbon degradation, plant colonization and gene expression of alkane degradation genes by endophytic Enterobacter ludwigii strains.
abstract: The genus Enterobacter comprises a range of beneficial plant-associated bacteria showing plant growth promotion. Enterobacter ludwigii belongs to the Enterobacter cloacae complex and has been reported to include human pathogens but also plant-associated strains with plant beneficial capacities. To assess the role of Enterobacter endophytes in hydrocarbon degradation, plant colonization, abundance and expression of CYP153 genes in different plant compartments, three plant species (Italian ryegrass, birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa) were grown in sterile soil spiked with 1% diesel and inoculated with three endophytic E. ludwigii strains. Results showed that all strains were capable of hydrocarbon degradation and efficiently colonized the rhizosphere and plant interior. Two strains, ISI10-3 and BRI10-9, showed highest degradation rates of diesel fuel up to 68% and performed best in combination with Italian ryegrass and alfalfa. All strains expressed the CYP153 gene in all plant compartments, indicating an active role in degradation of diesel in association with plants.
authors.affiliation: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Bioresources Unit, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Sohail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yousaf
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzal
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Reichenauer
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sessitsch
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; C435228:cytochrome P-450 CYP153 (Acinetobacter)