Identification and Evaluation of the Growth Promotion of Endophytic Bacteria on in vitro Potato Plants

Pak J Biol Sci. 2023 Jan;26(7):371-379. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2023.371.379.

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Isolation and investigation of plant growth promoting bacteria on potato plants can provide significant information for the application of beneficial bacteria in potato production. This study aims to isolate and characterize endophytic bacteria isolated from potato roots. In addition, the potential application of endophytes in promoting potato growth under <i>in vitro</i> conditions was also investigated. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The roots from 15 healthy potato plants were excised and surface sterilized by NaOCl and finally rinsed by sterilized water. The confirmed surface-sterilized roots were then aseptically cut into small fragments and spread onto the isolation media, followed by incubation at 27°C for up to 3 days. Six isolates that showed differences in colony morphology were selected for further investigation. All isolates were screened for IAA production, nitrogen fixation, and phosphate solubilization. <b>Results:</b> Five of the isolates were identified as <i>Bacillus</i> and isolate 30 was identified as <i>Paenibacillus alvei</i>. All isolates exhibited good IAA production. While Iso-27 had no nitrogen fixation activity, Iso-28 showed the highest level of nitrogen fixation activity (3.59 mg L<sup>1</sup>), four isolates (Iso-9, Iso-10, Iso-11, Iso-28) could solubilize phosphate, ranging from 49.64 g L<sup>1</sup> to 67.98 mg L<sup>1</sup>. After being inoculated with <i>in vitro</i> potato plants, isolates 9, 10, 28, 30, improved the stalk length, root number, fresh mass and dried mass of the potato plants. <b>Conclusion:</b> The four isolates can potentially be applied in <i>in vitro</i> potato culture.

Keywords: Endophytic bacteria; Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR); indole acetic acid (IAA); nitrogen fixation; phosphate solubilization; potato.

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus*
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Phosphates
  • Plant Development
  • Solanum tuberosum*

Substances

  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Phosphates