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Development of cyanobacterium-based biofilms and their in vitro evaluation for agriculturally useful traits

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Abstract

The ability of cyanobacteria to be useful as matrices for agriculturally important bacteria was evaluated. Biofilms were generated with the selected strain Anabaena torulosa after co-culturing with Azotobacter chroococcum, Pseudomonas striata, Serratia marcescens, and Mesorhizobium ciceri. The biochemical attributes were compared with individual bacterial and cyanobacterial cultures. The biofilms were characterized in terms of proteins, chlorophyll, IAA production, acetylene-reducing activity, phosphate solubilization, and antagonism towards selected phytopathogenic fungi. An enhancement in the population counts was recorded in A. torulosa–S. marcescens and A. torulosa–P. striata biofilms. The A. torulosa–A. chroococcum and A. torulosa–M. ciceri biofilms were also able to utilize new saccharides as compared to the individual cultures. Such novel biofilms with agriculturally useful traits can provide additional advantages including the broader spectrum of activity and the presence or formation of biologically active compounds; they also suggest the way to effective inoculants for sustainable and environment friendly agriculture.

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Abbreviations

ARA:

Acetylene-reducing activity

CD:

Critical difference

CRYEMA:

Congo red yeast extract mannitol agar

IAA:

3-Indole-acetic acid

IARI:

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

ITCC:

Indian Type Culture Collection

NA:

Nutrient agar

NB:

Nutrient broth

ONPG:

4-Nitrophenyl beta-d-galactopyranoside

PGPR:

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

SEM:

Standard error of means

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The authors are grateful to our Division and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for providing the facility and financial support for our investigation, and to Dr. S. Chandrasekaran (Division of Genetics, IARI) for providing the microscopy and imaging facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    R. Prasanna, S. Pattnaik, T. C. K Sugitha, L. Nain & A. K. Saxena

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  1. R. Prasanna
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  2. S. Pattnaik
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  3. T. C. K Sugitha
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  4. L. Nain
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  5. A. K. Saxena
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Correspondence to R. Prasanna.

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Prasanna, R., Pattnaik, S., Sugitha, T.C.K. et al. Development of cyanobacterium-based biofilms and their in vitro evaluation for agriculturally useful traits. Folia Microbiol 56, 49–58 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-011-0013-5

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