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Abstract Detail



Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions

Puri, Akshit [1], Padda, Kiran Preet [1], Chanway, Chris P [1].

Growth promotion and nitrogen fixation in Corn and Canola colonized by an Endophytic strain isolated from lodgepole pine.

Availability of nitrogen is the most yield-limiting factor in crop production. Several Paenibacillus bacterial strains that were able to fix nitrogen from atmosphere were isolated from extracts of surface-sterilized lodgepole pine seedling and tree tissues. One strain, Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2R, was found to derive high amounts of nitrogen from atmosphere when reintroduced to the gymnosperms, lodgepole pine and western red cedar. We wanted to determine if Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2R could colonize, fix nitrogen and promote the growth of important agricultural crops such as corn and canola. For this we inoculated corn and canola seeds with P. polymyxa P2b-2R and grew them for 30 and 60 days respectively. Corn seedlings were harvested 10, 20 and 30 days after inoculation and canola seedlings were harvested 20, 40 and 60 days after inoculation for evaluation of rhizospheric and internal tissue (endophytic) colonization. Seedlings were also evaluated for biological nitrogen fixation and growth promotion at these harvest intervals. The entire experiment was repeated to confirm the treatment effects. P2b-2R successfully colonized corn rhizosphere with 5.52 x 106 cfu/g dry root weight and canola with 1.08 x 108 cfu/g dry root weight. P2b-2R also colonized inside tissues (endophytically) of corn and canola root with populations of 4.54 x 105 cfu/g fresh weight and 2.36 x 103 cfu/g fresh weight respectively. Corn seedling growth was promoted significantly by inoculation with P2b-2R with an increase of 35% in height and 31% in biomass, 30 days after inoculation. Similarly, canola seedling height was promoted by 25% and biomass by 30%, 60 days after inoculation. Corn seedlings inoculated with P2b-2R were able to derive 17% of foliar nitrogen from atmosphere and similarly canola seedlings derived 20% of foliar nitrogen from atmosphere. These results clearly suggest that Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2R might have a broad range host capability and is able to fix nitogen and promote the growth of at least certain important agricultural crops like corn and canola.


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1 - University of British Columbia, Forest and Conservation Sciences, Forest Sciences Centre 3041, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

Keywords:
Paenibacillus polymyxa
P2b-2R
Nitrogen fixation
Growth promotion
Corn
Canola.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSB004
Abstract ID:66
Candidate for Awards:CSPB President's Award for Best Student Presentation,CSPB Travel Bursary


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