Elsevier

Applied Soil Ecology

Volume 146, February 2020, 103390
Applied Soil Ecology

Plant growth-promoting potential of bacteria associated to pioneer plants from an active volcanic site of Chiapas (Mexico)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103390Get rights and content

Abstract

The use of microbial inoculants is an effective biotechnological alternative to increase crop productivity. In this work we studied the diversity of the Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) associated with pioneer plants that grow at the surroundings of the crater-lake of El Chichón volcano. Cheilanthes aemula (Pteridaceae) and Andropogon glomeratus (Poaceae) plants were dominant in this area. A total of 80 endophytes and 128 strains from the rhizosphere were isolated using selective culture media, and then characterized phenotypically. Isolates were tested for growth in high salt concentrations, at different pH and in moderate concentrations of heavy metals. The genetic diversity and identity of the strains were revealed by BOX_PCR and by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. A. glomeratus isolates were classified within the genera Brevibacillus, Sinomonas, Sphingobium, Chryseobacterium, Pantoea, Ralstonia, Burkholderia, Serratia, Bacillus, Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium using 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. C. aemula isolates were grouped into the genera Dyella, Burkholderia, Microbacterium, Enterobacter, Exiguobacterium, Pandoraea, Methylobacterium, Kocuria and Agrobacterium. The rhizospheric and endophytic strains were distinguished by their ability to produce different extracellular enzymes. The extremophile isolates had the ability to produce indole compounds (IAA), solubilize phosphate, synthesize siderophores, ACC deaminase and nitrogenase and showed a positive effect on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris and upon the total content of nitrogen and phosphorus of plants. The diversity of bacteria associated to the pioneer plants had multifunctional qualities as PGPB that may contribute to their adaptation and proliferation at this active volcano and be used efficiently as biofertilizers to promote plant growth in organic farming systems

Introduction

Different species of microorganisms are present in soils. The soil firmly adhering to the roots, designated as rhizosphere soil is constituted by groups of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, algae and micro-arthropods (Prashar et al., 2014). Interactions between plants and bacteria in the rhizosphere are determinants for plant health and soil fertility (Chandra et al., 2018). Soil bacteria are very important for biogeochemical cycles on earth and in any existing type of habitat. After a volcanic eruption and for the soil formation process, microbes aid to restore soil structure to the creation of new horizons. At the beginning of soil formation process, the environment is colonized by primary vegetation (pioneer plants) that subsequently support the colonization of other plants. In the early stages of ecological succession, the supplies of important elements such as N, P, K, Fe, among others, are limited (Gadd, 2013). Microorganisms that solubilize rock play an important role in soil evolution (Gadd, 2010). Additionally, plant growth stimulation by bacteria can be a consequence of biological N2-fixation, production of phytohormones, such as IAA; biocontrol of phytopathogens through siderophore production, nutrient competition or enhancing the bioavailability of minerals (Amaresan et al., 2016). In the same way, plants may have bacterial communities that play important roles in modifying the availability and toxicity of soil metal concentrations to the plants (Chaudhary and Khan, 2018). Thereby, the plant associated extremophile bacteria may help plant growth and adaptation under diverse harsh environments (Yadav, 2017). Some studies have focused on rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of pioneer plants in extreme environments (Wang et al., 2009; Navarro-Noya et al., 2010; Kumar et al., 2011). El Chichón is a volcano located in the northwest of Chiapas, México (Armienta et al., 2008). The main characteristic of this volcano is that it has in its interior a lake that is cataloged as an active hydrothermal system. The hydro-geochemistry of the crater-lake has been studied (Armienta et al., 2000; Rouwet et al., 2008; Taran and Peiffer, 2009; Jutzeler et al., 2011; Cuoco et al., 2013). This volcanic complex has shown signs of an evolution over time of the structure and conformation of the soil. Before the eruptive process in 1982, a typical vegetation of high and medium evergreen forests was registered, which was completely destroyed. There are different studies (Pérez-Jiménez and Sarukhán-Kermes, 1971; Cervantes-Borja et al., 1983; Ramos-Hernández, 2007; Hernández-Morales, 2009) in which the presence of plant species indicative of the regeneration of this habitat is demonstrated. The recent study by Rincón-Molina et al. (2018) reported the presence of some microorganisms in the volcanic sediments of this site. The results showed that the sediments were slightly acidic and had a high content of heavy metals, highlighting the presence of molybdenum (7.6 mg kg−1) and vanadium (23.6 mg kg−1), which are important in different biochemical and metabolic bacterial processes including N2 fixation. As mentioned above, the studies have revealed the dynamic and functionality that is being carried out and that is probably related to the conformation and edaphic structure of this volcanic environment. For that reason, PGPB from extreme environments may be a sustainable alternative to the environment due to their ability to improve the quality of soils and promote the growth and development of plants in adverse conditions. Therefore, the principal aims of this work were to characterize the bacteria associated with pioneer plant species growing in the crater lake of El Chichón and to evaluate its potential as PGPB.

Section snippets

Experimental site and rhizosphere soil sampling

Samples of rhizospheric soil were obtained in February 2017 from two different species of pioneer plants, growing at the crater-lake zone in El Chichón volcano (17.36 °N, 93.23 °W). El Chichón is an extreme volcanic site that is located in the north-western part of Chiapas (Mexico) at 1100 masl, with an annual temperature higher to 22 °C and the average yearly rainfall is about 4000 mm. The crater-lake is an acidic and thermophilic system with 1.0 km wide. The soils inside the crater were

Characteristics of the pioneer plants of the crater-lake Chichón volcano

In the crater-lake of El Chichón volcano only two plant species were collected and taxonomically identified as Andropogon glomeratus (Poaceae) and Cheilanthes aemula (Pteridaceae). A specimen of each plant were deposited in the CHIP herbarium, Chiapas (Mexico) under accession numbers CHIP51832 and CHIP 51833, respectively. A. glomeratus species showed a greater distribution and population density. The most outstanding feature of this plant is the fibrous type root system that forms aggregates

Discussion

After a geological event such as a volcanic eruption occurs, a process of structure and ecosystem functionality regeneration is initiated, this process is known as primary succession (Pérez et al., 2017). The pioneer colonizer plants that grow under these extreme conditions play a significant role on the conformation and structure of the soil, as well as on different physical-chemical processes (Guo et al., 2014).

El Chichón volcano, located in the northwest of Chiapas (Mexico) is an active

Conclusion

We isolated and characterized rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria associated with pioneer plants that grow in an active volcanic environment. The isolates were characterized by their ability to produce different extracellular enzymes, and by their ability to produce indole compounds (IAA), solubilize phosphate, synthesize siderophores, ACC deaminase and nitrogenase and showed a positive effect on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris. The diversity of bacteria associated to the pioneer plants had

Acknowledgements

We thank Posgrado of Ingenieria and Bioquimica-ITTG and CONACyT for a fellowship to Clara I. Rincón-Molina (597160), for the scholarship granted to pursue a doctorate. This research was supported by Project ‘CB-2015-253281’ ‘Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología’ (CONACyT, México) and Tecnológico Nacional de México 6841.18-P.

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