Skip to main content
Log in

Identification of rhizobacteria from maize and determination of their plant-growth promoting potential

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the growing season of 1986, the rhizobacteria (including organisms from the ectorhizosphere, the rhizoplane and endorhizosphere) of 20 different maize hybrids sampled from different locations in the Province of Quebec were inventoried by use of seven different selective media. Isolates were characterized by morphological and biochemical tests and identified using the API20E and API20B diagnostic strips.Pseudomonas spp. were the prominent bacteria found in the rhizoplane and in the ectorhizosphere.Bacillus spp. andSerratia spp. were also detected, but in smaller numbers. In the endorhizosphere,Bacillus spp. andPseudomonas spp. were detected in order of importance. Screening for plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria was carried out in three soils with different physical and chemical characteristics. The results depended on the soil used, but two isolates (Serratia liquefaciens andPseudomonas sp.) consistently caused a promotion of plant growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker R, Elad Y and Snel B 1986 Physical, biological and host factors in iron competition in soils.In Iron Siderophores, and Plant Diseases. Ed. T R Swinburne. pp 77–84. Plenum Publishing Corporation, New-York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker J O 1984 Isolation and characterization of antimycotic bacteria for rhizosphere. Pests and Diseases 1, 365–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner J M 1965 Organic forms of nitrogen.In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Eds. C A Black, D D Evans, J L White, L E Ersminger and F E Clark. pp 1236–1255. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunt J S and Rovira A D 1955 Microbiological studies of some sub-antarctic soils. J. Soil Sci. 6, 119–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burr T J and Caesar A 1983 Beneficial plant bacteria. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 2, 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curl E A and Truelove B 1986 The Rhizosphere. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 288 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoagland D R and Arnon D L 1938 The water-culture method for growing plants without soil. Univ. of California, Coll. Agr. Exp. Sta., Berkeley, California, Circ. 341, 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell C R and Stipanovic R D 1980 Suppression ofPythium ultimum-induced damping-off of cotton seedlings ofPseudomonas fluorescens and its antibiotic, pyoluteorin. Phytopathology 70, 712–715.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kado C I and Heskett M G 1970 Selective media for isolation of Agrobacterium, Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. Phytopathology 60, 969–976.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katznelson H 1965 Nature and importance of the rhizosphere.In Biological Control in Crop Production. Ed. G C Papavizas. pp 187–209. Allanheld Asmun, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kloepper J W, Schroth M N and Miller T D 1980 Effects of rhizosphere colonization by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on potato development and yield. Phytopathology 70, 1078–1082.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kommedahl T and Mew C M 1975 Biocontrol of corn root infection in the field by seed treatment with antagonists. Phytopathology 65, 296–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert B, Leyns F, Van Rooyen L, Gosselé F, Papon Y and Swings J 1987 Rhizobacteria of maize and their antifungal activities. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53, 1866–1871.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller T D and Schroth M N 1972 Monitoring the epiphytic population ofErwinia amylovora on pear with a selective medium. Phytopathology 62, 1175–1182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennie R J 1981 A single medium for the isolation of acetylenereducing (dinitrogen-fixing) bacteria from soils. Can. J. Microbiol. 27, 8–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rennie R J 1987 The API 20B microtube system to aid in the identification of N2-fixingBacillaceae. Can. J. Microbiol. 33, 504–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaad N W 1980 Initial identification of common genera.In Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. Ed. N W Schaad. pp 1–11 American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schippers B 1988 Biological control of pathogens with rhizobacteria. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 318, 283–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steel R G and Torrie J H 1980 Principles and procedures of statistics.In A Biometrical Approach. pp 188–189. McGraw-Hill, New-York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whipps J M and Lynch J M 1986 The influence of the rhizosphere on crop productivity. Adv. Microbiol. Ecol. 9, 187–244.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Contribution no. 350 of the Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Sainte-Foy, Quebec.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lalande, R., Bissonnette, N., Coutlée, D. et al. Identification of rhizobacteria from maize and determination of their plant-growth promoting potential. Plant Soil 115, 7–11 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220688

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220688

Key words

Navigation