title: Identification and characterization of endophytic bacteria from corn (Zea mays L.) roots with biotechnological potential in agriculture.
abstract: Six endophytic bacteria of corn roots were identified as Bacillus sp. and as Enterobacter sp, by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Four of the strains, CNPSo 2476, CNPSo 2477, CNPSo 2478 and CNPSo 2480 were positive for the nitrogen fixation ability evaluated through the acetylene reduction assay and amplification of nifH gene. Two Bacillus strains (CNPSo 2477 and CNPSo 2478) showed outstanding skills for the production of IAA, siderophores and lytic enzymes, but were not good candidates as growth promoters, because they reduced seed germination. However, the same strains were antagonists against the pathogenic fungi Fusarium verticillioides, Colletotrichum graminicola, Bipolaris maydis and Cercospora zea-maydis. As an indication of favorable bacterial action, Enterobacter sp. CNPSo 2480 and Bacillus sp. CNPSo 2481 increased the root volume by 44% and 39%, respectively, and the seed germination by 47% and 56%, respectively. Therefore, these two strains are good candidates for future testing as biological inoculants for corn.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Curitiba 81531-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Jaskiw
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Szilagyi-Zecchin
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Curitiba 81531-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Soja, Londrina 86001-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hungria
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Curitiba 81531-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adamoski
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Curitiba 81531-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kava-Cordeiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Curitiba 81531-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chirlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glienke
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Curitiba 81531-970, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lygia Vitória
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Galli-Terasawa
keywords: 16S rRNA; Antagonism; Molecular phylogeny; Plant growth promotion; nifH