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Journal of Biotechnology & Bioresearch

Study on Plant Growth Promoting Activities of Azotobacter Isolates for Sustainable Agriculture in Myanmar

Phyu KE*

Department of Biotechnology Research, Myanmar

*Corresponding author:Department of Biotechnology Research, Myanmar

Submission: April 04, 2019;Published: April 23, 2019

Volume1 Issue5
April, 2019

Abstract

Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance the plant growth and productivity through wide variety of mechanism. In this paper, a total of 6 isolates belonging to Azotobacter spp. were isolated from different rhizosphere soils collected from Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Region. The isolated bacterial cultures were characterized morphologically, culturally and biochemically and then they were identified as Azotobacter. They were screened for their plant growth promoting traits. Results revealed that isolated strains are capable of fixing nitrogen, solubilizing phosphorus and synthesizing indole compounds. It was concluded that among the isolates, “U” is the best isolate for all these activities. The results of the present experiments can be utilized in biofertilizer production to provide sustainability to the agricultural productivity.

Introduction

Myanmar is an agricultural country and out of 67.6 million hectares of land in Myanmar, 12.8 million hectares are cultivated land. When measured by value of production, rice is the dominant commodity, accounting for 43% of production value. Agriculture is the backbone of the Myanmar economy: The sector accounts for about 30% of GDP, over 50% of total employment and approximately 20% of exports [1]. Economy of our country is greatly dependable on agriculture. The more the agriculture develops, the higher the standards of our country. Therefore, the demand for fertilizer is very high. Sustainable agricultural production requires new approaches to reduce the applications of polluting agrochemicals [2]. One potential solution to overcome this major challenge is the study of the biological processes involving plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR/PGPB) and their interaction with plants [3].

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are soil borne bacteria, which enhance the plant growth directly or indirectly. PGPR can exhibit a variety of characteristics responsible for influencing plant growth [4]. Among the different bacterial genera that have been reported as PGPR (Azospirillum, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, Enterobacter, Beijerinckia, Klebsiella, Xanthomonas, Phyllobacterium) [5], Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Azotobacter are the most widely reported [6-9]. Several lines of evidence suggesting direct mechanisms of PGPR/PGPB involved in plant growth promotion are the following

A. Production of ACC deaminase, which reduces the level of ethylene in crop roots thus enhancing root length and density.

B. Symbiotic and associative nitrogen fixation, which increases the availability of soluble nitrogen in soil.

C. Nutrient solubilization and mineralization (e.g. P, K, Zn and Si), which increases the availability of those elements for plant uptake.

D. Synthesis of phytohormones such as indoles, gibberellins, abscisic acid and cytokinin’s which modulate plant growth and division.

E. Ability to produce siderophores, hydrolytic enzymes and antibiotics, which renders the cells more competitive over niche colonization.

F. Quorum sensing signal interference and inhibition of biofilm formation.

G. Enhance resistance to stresses by synthesis of watersoluble vitamins as niacin, thiamine and biotin 4,12 [10,11].

Within the PGPR/PGPB group, the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum has shown to promote the growth of different crops under different soil types and climatic conditions [12]. Among the heterotrophic free-living N2-fixing bacteria, Azotobacter is the most intensively investigated genera. Apart from its ability to fix atmospheric N, Azotobacter is also known to synthesize biologically active growth-promoting substances such as indole acetic acid, gibberellins and B-vitamins in culture media [13]. Azotobacter is free living bacteria and is widely distributed in different types of soils. Azotobacter are present in neutral or alkaline soils and A. chroococcum is the most commonly occurring species in arable soils.

Azotobacter is a nitrogen fixer so it enhances the plant development, produces plant growth regulators and increases mineral phosphates solubility by producing hydrogen cyanide, siderophore. Azotobacter has antifungal activity it produces antibiotics [14]. Azotobacter has been used as a potential nitrogenous fertilizer to increase crop growth. The Azotobacter genus was discovered in 1901 by Dutch microbiologist and botanist Beijerinck (founder of environmental microbiology). A chroococcum is the first aerobic free-living nitrogen fixer. They multiply rapidly and develop a thick population in rhizosphere, when applied as seed treatment or seedling root-dip or as soil application [15]. They are non-symbiotic heterotrophic bacteria capable of fixing an average 20kg N/ha/year under optimum conditions and increase yield up to 50%.

Azotobacter species can tolerate and survive in extreme environmental condition by producing cysts [16]. The occurrence of this organism has been reported from the rhizosphere of a number of crop plants such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), maize (Zea mays L.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), bajra (Pennisetum glaucum L.), vegetables and plantation crops [17]. The main purpose of this research was to study the plant growth promoting efficiency of rhizobacteria (PGPR)-Azotobacter.

Material and Methods

Collection of soil samples

Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere region of five different paddy fields of Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar. Samples were collected in polythene bags from the selected sites at a depth of 10-15cm. The samples were then immediately transported to lab for further processing.

Isolation of Azotobacter species from paddy fields

To cultivate bacteria from soil samples, one gram of soil was placed in the sterile test and 5ml of 0.9% NaCl was added to it. Vigorous shaking of the tube was made to dissolve those soluble components. The tube with soil samples were kept standing for about 10 minutes, so that heavy materials become settled down. Then 1ml of upper portion of the soil suspension was drained and precipitate was spread on Jensen’s medium that was used as selective medium for Azotobacter. Plates were then incubated at 30 °C and examined after 7 days for growth.

The colonies that developed were picked based on morphological characteristics. Each colony picked was subcultured into the respective enrichment media using a sterile wire loop under aseptic conditions to streak onto the duplicate plates and incubated at 30 °C for 24-48 hours. After incubation, the cultures were sub-cultured to get discrete colony. The colonies that developed were then Gram-stained. The discrete colonies produced from previous subculture was picked with the aid of a sterile wireloop and inoculated onto 10ml of peptone water and incubated for 24hrs at 30 °C before being stored properly in the refrigerator. This served as the stock culture.

Morphological and biochemical characterization

The phenotypic characteristics of isolated strain were studied and characterized such as colonial and microscopic morphology, some biochemical characteristics by using the criteria described in Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology [18,19].

Characterization for plant growth promoting traits

Assay for IAA production: The production of indole acetic acid (IAA) by selected 6 strains of nitrogen fixing bacteria and the effect of L-tryptophan on IAA production was assayed by using a colourimetric technique and it was performed with Van Urk Salkowski reagent using the Salkowski’s method [20]. The isolates were inoculated in the respective medium with tryptophan containing 0.5g/l of tryptophan and incubated at 30 °C for 14 days. The broth was centrifuged after incubation. Supernatant was reserved and 1ml was mixed with 2ml of Salkowski’s reagent (2% 0.5M FeCl3 in 35% perchloric acid solution) and kept in the dark. The optical density (OD) was recorded at 530nm after 30min. The level of IAA produced was estimated by standard IAA graph.

Qualitative determination of phosphate solubilizing activity

To determine the solubilization of phosphate, National Botanical Research Institute Phosphate (NBRIP) media and Pikovskaia’s media were used and the single colony of bacterial strains was spotted on NBRIP media and Pikovskaia’s containing BTB that it was supplemented with tricalcium phosphate as substrate. After five days of incubation, the colonies showing the yellow halo zone around them were considered as positive and halo zone diameter were recorded.

Quantitative determination of phosphate solubilizing activity

For the quantitative estimation of soluble phosphates, the bacterial strains were inoculated in Pikovaskaia’s broth media in a flask (10ml) and incubated in water bath shaker at 30 °C for five days. Uninoculated medium served as control. After incubation, the culture broth was passed through the cation exchange resin and (PO4) 3-solution was reacted with colour forming reagent (Sodium Molybdate and Hydrazium Sulphate). After blue colour development, phosphate solubilizing activity was measured by UVvis spectrophotometric method at 830nm [21].

Qualitative determination of nitrogen-fixing activity

The visual detection of nitrogen-fixing activity was observed by using glucose nitrogen free mineral agar medium containing BTB (Bromothymol blue solution). After one-week incubation, changing the colour of BTB containing medium was recorded [22].

Quantitative determination of nitrogen-fixing activity

The isolated strains were screened for nitrogen fixingactivity by using glucose nitrogen free mineral agar medium as well as broth medium and ammonia test kit (VISCOLOUR alpha ammonium reagent, MACHEREY-NAGEL GmbH & Co. KG, Germany). The pure cultures were inoculated into GNFMM containing BTB (bromothymol blue solution) and without BTB and incubated in a shaker for a week and changing the colour of medium from green to blue was recorded.

For the determination of nitrogen fixing activity from NFGMM broth medium without BTB, broth culture was centrifuged at 8000rpm for 10 minutes and the pellet was discarded. Two drops of ammonium test kit Reagent I was mixed with 1ml of supernatant. And one fifth of Reagent II was added and incubated for five minutes. After that, one drop of Reagent III was poured and incubated again for 5 minutes. Finally, colour development was noted by comparing the colour chart from the test kit [22].

Result and Discussion

Isolation of Azotobacter sp. from paddy fields

Six bacterial strains were isolated from different paddy soils on Jensen’s N-free medium at 30 °C for 24hrs incubation. Gram staining, motility and biochemical tests such as indole, methyl red, vogesproskauer, citrate, urease, nitrate, catalase, oxidase, utilization of different carbon sources, starch hydrolysis, gelatine hydrolysis was performed. Bacteria were Gram-negative with rounded ends, with an average cell size of 1.3×4.0μm after 24h growth. They occurred singly, in paired or irregular clumps and sometime in chains of varying length. They cannot produce endospores but form cysts that can tolerate and service in extreme environmental conditions and Salhia said that it is means of asexual reproduction under favorable condition [23].

The biochemical test was performed as catalase activity test. The test shows the ability of some microbes to degrade hydrogen peroxide by producing the enzyme catalase. Usually, all Azotobacter species have the capacity to produce oxidases and catalases for the protection of their nitrogenase [24]. The colonies were glistening; smooth, slimy, mucoid, semi-transparent during the early growth and later brown on Jensen’s N-free agar plates. In my research work, the colonies of isolated strains produced brown pigment after 7 days of incubation. According to literature, pigments are also an important characteristic and produced by all Azotobacter spp. For example, A. chroococcum forms a dark-brown water-soluble pigment melanin.

This process occurs at high levels of metabolism during the fixation of nitrogen and is thought to protect the nitrogenase system from oxygen [25]. Other Azotobacter species produce pigments from yellow-green to purple colours [26] including a green pigment which fluoresces with a yellow-green light and a pigment with bluewhite fluorescence. So, it can be assumed that all the isolates may be Azotobacter chrocioccum. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of the isolated strains were compared with those defined in manual [19] to confirm them as Azotobacter strains (Table 1).

Table 1:Biochemical characteristics of bacterial isolates strains.


Production of indole-3-acetic acid

PGPR can exhibit to produce plant growth regulators (auxins, gibberellins, and ethylene). Indole acetic acid is a common product of L-tryptophan metabolism by several microorganisms including PGPR [27]. All isolated strains in a culture medium containing tryptophan of 0.5g/l produced IAA as detected by the Salkowski reagent under colourimetry in the range of 20mg/l to 90mg/l Figure 1. “MT” strain produced the highest amount of IAA concentration. Figure 2 showed the samples of the obtained solutions of this compound. Many bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere have the capacity to synthesize IAA in vitro in the presence or absence of physiological precursors, mainly tryptophan (Trp) [28]. It has been reported that IAA production by PGPR can vary among different species and it is also influenced by culture condition, growth stage and substrate ability [29,30] (Figure 1 & 2).

Figure 1:Detection of IAA concentration of isolated bacterial strains by UV vis spectrophotometer at 530nm.


Figure 2:Screening of IAA producing activities of isolated strains by Salkowski reagent.


Phosphate solubilizing activity

Large proportion of phosphorus in soil is insoluble and therefore unavailable to plants [31]. The ability of some microorganisms to convert insoluble Phosphorus (P) to an accessible form, like orthophosphate, is an important trait in a PGPB for increasing plant yields [32]. In this research, all the selected isolates were found to be potent phosphate solubilizers showing yellow halo zone around the colonies on NBRIP media and Pikovskaia’s media Figure 3. In this screening method, they gave higher halo zone diameter in NBRIP media than in Pikovskaia’s media Figure 4.

After plate screening, phosphate solubilizing activity of all selected strains were quantitatively determined by UV-vis spectrophotometric method at 830nm using KH2PO4 as standard. In qualitative analysis of phosphate solubilizing activity, “U” strain gave the highest amount of phosphate solubilization Figure 5. Some researchers noted that certain enzymes (e.g. acid phosphatases) could play a major role in the mineralization of organic P in soil [33] (Figures 3-5).

Figure 3:Screening of phosphate solubilizing activity of isolated strains by yellow halo zone formation on Pikovskaia’s and NBRIP media with BTB.


Figure 4:Screening of P-solubilizing activities of NBRIP and Pikovskaia’s media with BTB by halo zone diameter.


Figure 5:Detection of P-solubilizing activity of isolated strains by UV vis Spectrophometric method.


Nitrogen fixing activity of isolated strains

For screening of nitrogen fixation activity, all bacterial strains were incubated in G-NFMM solid media containing BTB and incubated for one week. After one-week incubation, the best isolates for nitrogen fixation produced significant amounts of ammonia into the media by changing the colour of the medium from green to blue as the pH of the medium was increased Figure 6. Plate screening method was used using BTB as indicator. Before culturing on G-NFMM, the colour of media was green. But, after culturing of G-NFMM for one week, the colour of the media was turned from green to blue.

Figure 6:Screening of nitrogen fixing activities of isolated strains on G-NFMM with BTB.


Control media without the bacteria remained as green colour. It was assumed that NFB accumulated excreted ammonia into media and pH of the media was increased [22]. Consequently, this reaction caused the changing of the colour of the media. For quantitative analysis for nitrogen fixing activity, all isolated strains gave nitrogen fixing activity when activity was tested by ammonium test kit. “U” strain showed higher amount of ammonia than other five strains in detection with ammonium test kit (Figures 6-8).

Figure 7:Nitrogen fixing activities of isolated strains by ammonium test kits


Figure 8:Detection of nitrogen fixing activity of isolated strains by ammonium test kit.


Conclusion

Azotobacter could be one of the bio-fertilizer options for sustainable and environmental eco-friendly. This study confirmed that Azotobacter have the plant growth promoting activities (nitrogen fixing activity, phosphate solubilizing activity and indole acetic acid producing activity). In quantitative analysis for these activities, all Azotobacter isolates gave the considerable amount of for IAA, nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization and “U” strain is the best strain for all these activities. This isolated U strain may be further enhanced with the optimization and acclimatization according to the prevailing soil conditions.

In future, they are expected to replace the chemical fertilizers, pesticides and artificial growth regulators which have numerous side-effects to sustainable agriculture. Azotobacters are unique biofertilizers to maintain the N level in agriculture soil. Coinoculants increased most of growth parameters, water and nutrient uptake under the deficit irrigation. Azotobacter has a potential to stress tolerance that results crop improvement. Hence, understanding and manipulating this feature may be of great agroecological interest for future crop improvement.

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