Authors: Zareen Khan Sharon L Doty
Publish Date: 2009/02/06
Volume: 322, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 197-207
Abstract
Endophytic bacteria associated with sweet potato plants Ipomoea batatas L Lam were isolated identified and tested for their ability to fix nitrogen produce indole acetic acid IAA and exhibit stress tolerance Eleven different strains belonging to the genera Enterobacter Rahnella Rhodanobacter Pseudomonas Stenotrophomonas Xanthomonas and Phyllobacterium were identified Four strains were shown to produce IAA a plant growth hormone and one strain showed the ability to grow in nitrogen free medium and had the nitrogenase subunit gene nifH To determine if IAA production by the endophytes had any role in protecting the cells against adverse conditions different stress tests were conducted The IAA producer grew well in the presence of some antibiotics UV and cold treatments but the response to pH osmotic shock thermal and oxidative treatments was the same for both the IAA producer and the no IAA producer To determine if IAA produced by the strains was biologically relevant to plants cuttings of poplar were inoculated with the highest IAA producing strain The inoculated cuttings produced roots sooner and grew more rapidly than uninoculated cuttings These studies indicate that endophytes of sweet potato plants are beneficial to plant growth
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