Effects of a Nitrogen‐Fixing Indigenous Bacterium (Klebsiella pneumoniae) on the Growth and Development of the Halophyte Salicornia bigelovii as a New Crop for Saline Environments

Abstract

Salicornia bigelovii is a novel crop for salty soils, which can contribute to arid-zone management where irrigation with salty water, including sea water, is now a necessity. Nitrogen fixation by bacteria associated with the roots of S. bigelovii and similar halophytes is an important source of available nitrogen in salt marsh ecosystems. However, the diversity of the rhizosphere of Salicornia is unknown. Five areas around the Bay of La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico were sampled to detect nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with this halophyte; from these, 18 colonies were isolated. Only one showed high acetylene reduction activity. This bacterium was identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae. The effects of K. pneumoniae were evaluated at the germination and early seedling growth stages of two genotypes of S. bigelovii (Ôwild genotypeÕ and cultivar SOS-10), as an alternative crop for semiarid and saline environments. This bacterium, in conjunction with Azospirillum halopraeferens, was tested for growth-promoting ability when inoculated on S. bigelovii genotypes under various saline concentration conditions. During germination and early seedling growth, K. pneumoniae showed high specificity for the wild S. bigelovii genotype, while A. halopraeferens was more specific for the improved S. bigelovii genotype SOS-10. This is the first report of K. pneumoniae as a nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with the oilseed S. bigelovii, a novel halophyte crop. A reliable biological method, based on beneficial bacteria, is suggested to help maintain or improve the fertility of soils sustaining Salicornia fields.

Opposite diel patterns of nitrogen fixation associated with salt marsh plant species (Spartina foliosa and Salicornia virginica) in southern California

“…Nitrogen fixers have been isolated from roots of S. virginica (Bagwell et al. 2001) and S. bigelovii (Rueda‐Puente et al. 2003) and shown to be physiologically distinct from those of other salt marsh plants (Bagwell et al.…”

Ecophysiology of Wild Plants and Conservation Perspectives in the State of Qatar

“…Also, bacteria may influence the mangrove ecosystem directly; they contribute inevitably in the recycling of nutrients [78]. Many potential bacteria were isolated from mangrove ecosystem such as nitrogen-fixers, phosphate solubilizers, photosynthetic anoxygenic sulfur bacteria, methanogenic and methane oxidizing bacteria, which are involved in efficient nutrient recycling [79]. Also bacteria and fungi that either produce antibiotics [80,81] or resistant to antibiotics were isolated from mangrove ecosystem [82,83].…”

Identificación y dinámica poblacional de nemátodos fitoparásitos asociados a la halófita Salicornia bigelovii (Torr.) en el noroeste de México

“…La importancia agroindustrial de la misma, reside en su capacidad de producción de forrajes, aceites vegetales y alimentos para consumo humano esencialmente ensaladas y harinas. Sumado a ello, ha quedado demostrada su aplicabilidad en industrias como la cosmetología, la construcción (fibra seca prensada) y fundamentalmente para la recuperación de áreas degradadas por salinización, ya sea natural o inducida por prácticas agrícolas inadecuadas, lo cual favorece la economía rural (Glenn et al, 1995;Rueda-Puente et al, 2003;2004;2009). En Sonora y Baja California Sur, S. bigelovii tiene una amplia distribución a lo largo de sus costas (Gleen et al, 1994), por lo que es factible su desarrollo como nuevo cultivo en el noroeste de México con perspectivas de explotación comercial; ambas regiones son una de las principales áreas productoras de Salicornia a nivel mundial debido a su alto potencial de rendimiento (Carlson, 2000).…”

“…Added to that, they have proved their applicability in industries like cosmetics, construction (dry hardboard) and mainly for recovering degraded by salinization areas, whether natural or induced by inappropriate agricultural practices, which favours the rural economy (Glenn et al, 1995;Rueda-Puente et al, 2003;2004;2009). In Sonora and Baja California Sur, S. bigelovii is widely distributed along its shores (Glenn et al, 1994), so its development as a new crop in northwestern Mexico with prospects of commercial exploitation is feasible; both regions are one of the main producing areas of Salicornia worldwide due to its high yield potential (Carlson, 2000).…”