Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits

Bacilli are commonly used as plant growth-promoting agents but can be limited in effectiveness to certain crop and soil environments. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify Bacillus strains that can be consistent in promoting the growth of corn, wheat, and soybean and (2) determine whethe...

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Main Authors: Rufus J. Akinrinlola, Gary Y. Yuen, Rhae A. Drijber, Anthony O. Adesemoye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:International Journal of Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5686874
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author Rufus J. Akinrinlola
Gary Y. Yuen
Rhae A. Drijber
Anthony O. Adesemoye
author_facet Rufus J. Akinrinlola
Gary Y. Yuen
Rhae A. Drijber
Anthony O. Adesemoye
author_sort Rufus J. Akinrinlola
collection DOAJ
description Bacilli are commonly used as plant growth-promoting agents but can be limited in effectiveness to certain crop and soil environments. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify Bacillus strains that can be consistent in promoting the growth of corn, wheat, and soybean and (2) determine whether physiological traits expressed in vitro can be predictive of growth promotion efficacy/consistency and be used for selecting effective strains. Twelve Bacillus strains isolated from wheat rhizospheres were evaluated in greenhouse pot tests with nonsterile soil for their effects on the growth of corn, soybean, and wheat. The strains also were assessed in vitro for multiple physiological traits. All 12 strains increased corn growth significantly compared to the controls. The four most efficacious strains on corn—Bacillus megaterium R181, B. safensis R173, B. simplex R180, and Paenibacillus graminis R200—also increased the growth of soybean and wheat. No set of traits was a predictor of growth promotion efficacy. The number of traits expressed by a strain also was not an indicator of efficacy as strain R200 that was positive for only one trait showed high growth promotion efficacy. Effective strains can be identified through pot tests on multiple crop plants, but in vitro physiological assays are unreliable for strain selection.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-918X
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publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-aef38f7cafec49e292cb9c94dca8f26f2025-02-03T05:53:25ZengWileyInternational Journal of Microbiology1687-918X1687-91982018-01-01201810.1155/2018/56868745686874Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological TraitsRufus J. Akinrinlola0Gary Y. Yuen1Rhae A. Drijber2Anthony O. Adesemoye3Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USADepartment of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USADepartment of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USADepartment of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USABacilli are commonly used as plant growth-promoting agents but can be limited in effectiveness to certain crop and soil environments. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify Bacillus strains that can be consistent in promoting the growth of corn, wheat, and soybean and (2) determine whether physiological traits expressed in vitro can be predictive of growth promotion efficacy/consistency and be used for selecting effective strains. Twelve Bacillus strains isolated from wheat rhizospheres were evaluated in greenhouse pot tests with nonsterile soil for their effects on the growth of corn, soybean, and wheat. The strains also were assessed in vitro for multiple physiological traits. All 12 strains increased corn growth significantly compared to the controls. The four most efficacious strains on corn—Bacillus megaterium R181, B. safensis R173, B. simplex R180, and Paenibacillus graminis R200—also increased the growth of soybean and wheat. No set of traits was a predictor of growth promotion efficacy. The number of traits expressed by a strain also was not an indicator of efficacy as strain R200 that was positive for only one trait showed high growth promotion efficacy. Effective strains can be identified through pot tests on multiple crop plants, but in vitro physiological assays are unreliable for strain selection.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5686874
spellingShingle Rufus J. Akinrinlola
Gary Y. Yuen
Rhae A. Drijber
Anthony O. Adesemoye
Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits
International Journal of Microbiology
title Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits
title_full Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits
title_fullStr Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits
title_short Evaluation of Bacillus Strains for Plant Growth Promotion and Predictability of Efficacy by In Vitro Physiological Traits
title_sort evaluation of bacillus strains for plant growth promotion and predictability of efficacy by in vitro physiological traits
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5686874
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AT rhaeadrijber evaluationofbacillusstrainsforplantgrowthpromotionandpredictabilityofefficacybyinvitrophysiologicaltraits
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