Diversity and Functionality of Culturable Endophytic Bacterial Communities in Chickpea Plants

Abstract

The aims of this study were to isolate, identify and characterize culturable endophytic bacteria from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) roots grown in different soils. In addition, the effects of rhizobial inoculation, soil and stress on the functionality of those culturable endophytic bacterial communities were also investigated. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the endophytic bacteria isolated in this work belong to the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, with Enterobacter and Pseudomonas being the most frequently observed genera. Production of indoleacetic acid and ammonia were the most widespread plant growth-promoting features, while antifungal activity was relatively rare among the isolates. Despite the fact that the majority of bacterial endophytes were salt- and Mn-tolerant, the isolates obtained from soil with Mn toxicity were generally more Mn-tolerant than those obtained from the same soil amended with dolomitic limestone. Several associations between an isolate’s genus and specific plant growth-promoting mechanisms were observed. The data suggest that soil strongly impacts the Mn tolerance of endophytic bacterial communities present in chickpea roots while rhizobial inoculation induces significant changes in terms of isolates’ plant growth-promoting abilities. In addition, this study also revealed chickpea-associated endophytic bacteria that could be exploited as sources with potential application in agriculture.

Diversity Analysis of Endophytic Bacterial Microflora in Emilia sonchifolia (Linn.) DC on Illumina Mi Seq Platforms

“…Panax notoginseng a medicinal plant with antihypertensive, antithrombic and neuroprotective bioactivities were screened for the diversity analysis of bacterial endophytes associated with the plant using the QUIIME Pineline and indicated the presence of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes as major communities of bacterial endophytes in this plant (Dong et al,2018). Previous works on endophytes by Sessitsch et al, (2012) reported in the present study were also reported by various researchers with special mention to the endophyte-host interactive growth promotion (Brigido et al, 2019). These endophytes were found to be effective in preventing the development of disease causing pathogenic fungus in Agave tequilana (Martinez-Rodriguez et al, 2014) and they check the development of wilt disease in Pine Trees (Proença et al, 2017).…”

Mediterranean Native Leguminous Plants: A Reservoir of Endophytic Bacteria with Potential to Enhance Chickpea Growth under Stress Conditions

“…The root nodules that were visible were detached from the roots using a sterile clamp and were then discarded. Root surface sterilization and bacterial isolation were performed according to [24]. The efficiency of the root surface sterilization procedure was determined by the absence of any bacterial growth from 100 µL aliquot of the last rinsing water inoculated in Tryptic Soy agar (TSA) (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) plates after 48 h at 28 °C incubation.…”

Deciphering the Factors for Nodulation and Symbiosis of Mesorhizobium Associated with Cicer arietinum in Northwest India

“…Bacteria adheres to the legume roots with the help of EPS and can fix the nitrogen for plant growth, act as biocontrol against pathogens, produce phytohormone, and mobilize the nutrients to enriched the soil and the environment [10,11]. Rhizobia have been used in agricultural practices mainly for nitrogen fixation and plant growth promotion (PGP) [12][13][14] due to their wide distribution. The first criterion for a Rhizobium strain to be used in legume inocula is that it must be highly effective when fixing nitrogen [15].…”