The study reveals the potential of indigenous beneficial microbes as eco-friendly biofertilisers and biocontrol agents for sustainable Chak-hao rice cultivation, quality grain improvement and conservation of unique Chak-hao rice germplasm Manipur.
Abstract
Chak-hao (Oryza sativa L.), an aromatic black glutinous rice native to Manipur, is valued for its unique fragrance and high nutraceutical value, including iron, vitamin E and antioxidants. The present study aimed to isolate and characterise beneficial rhizospheric and endophytic microbes that could enhance Chak-hao rice cultivation. A total of 170 bacterial and 55 fungal isolates were obtained from different Chak-hao varieties collected from the farmers’ fields across four districts of Manipur. These isolates were screened for plant growth-promoting traits such as phosphate solubilisation, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, nitrogen fixation and antagonistic activity against harmful fungal pathogens. The study showed 51.94 % phosphate solubilisation, 41.26 % produced IAA and 9.2 % exhibited nitrogen-fixing ability. Based on multiple plant growth promoting traits, 11 promising isolates were selected for molecular characterisation. The 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequencing identified these isolates as belonging to Bacillus, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas genera, with Bacillus species being predominant. Microbial inoculation significantly improved grain yield, straw yield and aroma-associated compounds compared to the untreated control (p ≤ 0.05, Duncan’s multiple range test). The study reveals the potential of indigenous beneficial microbes as eco-friendly biofertilisers and biocontrol agents for sustainable Chak-hao rice cultivation, quality grain improvement and conservation of unique Chak-hao rice germplasm Manipur.
This study introduces L. aquatilis strain MC3 as an emerging candidate for bioinoculant development and one of the first reports for identification of L. aquatilis as multifunctional PGPR from Himalayan ecosystems.
S. Devi, Riya Chandel, D. Thakur et al.· Frontiers in Systems Biology· 0 citations
A wide range of functional diversity among wheat endophytic bacteria is revealed and promising native strains for the development of bioinoculants to improve wheat performance are highlighted.
A.B. Bingobingo, S. Hilário, Nuno Mariz-Ponte et al.· Frontiers in Microbiology· 0 citations
In the Himalayan region, the identification and isolation of native rhizobia strains for promoting symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation in common beans have remained unexplored owing to the rough terrain of the region. To bridge the research gaps, this research was designed to determine physico-chemical characteristics of soil samples collected from 27 sites situated at different altitudes (707–2134 m), grow common bean plants in pots filled with the col - lected soils, and subsequently isolate and characterize indigenous Rhizobium strains from common bean nodules. The bacterial populations were assessed using the most probable number (MPN) technique, which ranged from 1.0 × 10⁶–8.0 × 10⁵ cells per gram of soil. Out of 27 isolates tested for biochemical traits, twelve isolates exhibited N fixation potential, 24 isolates were positive for indole-3-acetic acid, and 8 isolates displayed zinc mobilization po - tential. Moreover, 23 and 21 isolates were positive for combined carbon medium source (CCM) and acid production, respectively, while 6 bacterial isolates were found capable of producing alkali. Interestingly, catalase activity was exhibited by 22 isolates, and only 4 isolates effectively solubilized the insoluble phosphate, indicating the significant need to inoculate common beans for boosting grain yield and nutritional value. Thereafter, common bean plants sown in collected soils under a controlled environment revealed that the shoot length varied from 28.6 cm to 48.5 cm, while root length ranged from 6.85 to 22.4 cm. Similarly, the weight of fresh and dry shoots ranged between 4.59–11.5 g and 1.45–4.69 g plant -1 , respectively, while the fresh and dry weight of roots varied between 0.57–1.60 g and 0.27–0.93 g per plant. For developing biofertilizer, isolates (BR3, BR10, BR18, BR20, BR25, BR30, and BR31) may be recommended for high salt tolerance, while BR1, BR8, BR10, BR17, and BR20 stand out in terms of tolerance to varying pH levels owing to superior genetics and better physiological and ecological adaptations.
Tehmina Zafar, Nasir Rahim, A. Imran et al.· Journal of Ecological Engine...· 0 citations
Gymnema sylvestre (Gudmar) is an important medicinal plant recognized for its diverse bioactive compounds, including antimicrobial and immune-stimulatory properties, and for its association with beneficial endophytic microorganisms. However, the plant growth-promoting and biocontrol potential of its bacterial endophytes remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize bacterial endophytes from different tissues of G. sylvestre and evaluate their PGP attributes and antagonistic activity against major soil-borne phytopathogens. A total of 30 bacterial endophytes were isolated from leaf (n = 14), stem (n = 9), and root (n = 7) tissues. Screening for PGP traits revealed that 36.7% of isolates produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (>20 μg/mL), 56.7% produced siderophores, 16.7% solubilized phosphate, and 20.0% solubilized zinc. In addition, 30.0%, 23.3%, 16.7%, and 16.7% of isolates exhibited DNase activity, nitrate reduction, urease production, and citrate utilization, respectively. Extracellular enzyme production was also recorded, with isolates showing amylase (36.7%), protease (30.0%), cellulase (23.3%), and lipase (40.0%) activities. An antagonistic assay against soil-borne fungal pathogens using a dual culture assay showed inhibition of fungal growth in 5, 5, and 3 endophyte isolates against Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively with maximum zone of inhibition up to 67%, 67% and 62%, respectively against each pathogen. Based on combined PGP and antagonistic performance, six elite isolates were selected for in-planta validation and molecular identification using 16S rDNA sequencing. In-planta evaluation in chickpea demonstrated significant improvements in seed germination, plant growth, and biomass compared with the uninoculated control. Bacillus cereus strain NIBSM_GdR7 produced the greatest increase in plant height, whereas Bacillus cabrialesii strain NIBSM_GdL7 yielded the highest fresh and dry biomass. Under pathogen challenge, seed biopriming of chickpea with selected endophytes reduced disease incidence caused by S. rolfsii, providing 68.7-87.8% protection, with the highest protection observed for Bacillus proteolyticus strain NIBSM_GdL2. These results indicate that G. sylvestre harbors bacterial endophytes with promising plant growth-promoting and antifungal properties, and that selected Bacillus isolates can in future serve as candidate bioinoculants for sustainable crop improvement and disease suppression.
A. Shrivastava, Lata Jain, Vinay Kumar et al.· Microbial Pathogenesis· 0 citations
Overall, NBAIR Bt25 emerged as a promising multifunctional strain with strong insecticidal activity, plant growth‐promoting ability, and biocontrol potential, making it a suitable candidate for sustainable pest management and climate‐smart agriculture.
Manjunatha Channappa, Aditya Kukreti, L. Manjunath et al.· Journal of Basic Microbiolog...· 0 citations
This is the first report describing Bacillus stercoris as a multifunctional endophytic biocontrol and plant growth-promoting bacterium associated with taro, highlighting their potential as eco-friendly bioinoculants for the sustainable management of taro leaf blight.
Sreekumar Usha Shilpa, M. Jeeva, S. S. Veena et al.· 3 Biotech· 0 citations
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