title: Effect of specific plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and uptake of neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam in corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world and is used for food, feed and energy. Inoculation with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) would reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and could be suggested as an alternative practice for sustainable production of corn in modern agricultural systems. In this study, the effect of two Bacillus PGPR formulated products, Companion (B. subtilis GB03) and FZB24 (B. subtilis FZB24), on corn growth and root uptake of insecticide thiamethoxam was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All bacterial treatments enhanced root biomass production by 38-65% compared with the uninoculated control, with no stimulatory effect of PGPR on above-ground biomass of corn. The uptake results revealed that, in plants inoculated with the PGPR B. subtilis FZB24 and B. subtilis GB03, singly or in combination, the uptake and/or systemic translocation of thiamethoxam in the above-ground corn parts was significantly higher at the different growth ages compared with the control receiving no bacterial treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the PGPR-elicited enhanced uptake of thiamethoxam could lead to improved efficiency of thiamethoxam using reduced rates of pesticides in combination with PGPR as an alternative crop protection technique.
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalampos K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Myresiotis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agricultural Pharmacology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 193 Pantazidou, 682 00 Orestias, Greece.
authors.forename: Zisis
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vryzas
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Euphemia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou-Mourkidou
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D010078:Oxazines / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D000077922:Thiamethoxam; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D010078:Oxazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077922:Thiamethoxam
keywords: Bacillus; corn (Zea mays L.); growth promotion; plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR); thiamethoxam; uptake