Abstract

Biotic interactions through volatile organic compounds (VOC) are frequent in nature. This investigation aimed to study the role of Bacillus VOC for the beneficial effects on plants observed as improved growth and pathogen control. Four Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum strains were screened for VOC effects on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 seedlings and Brassica fungal phytopathogens. VOC from all four Bacillus strains could promote growth of Arabidopsis plants resulting in increased shoot biomass but the effects were dependent on the growth medium. Dose response studies with UCMB5113 on MS agar with or without root exudates showed significant plant growth promotion even at low levels of bacteria. Bacillus VOC antagonized growth of several fungal pathogens in vitro. However, the plant growth promotion efficacy and fungal inhibition potency varied among the Bacillus strains. VOC inhibition of several phytopathogens indicated efficient microbial antagonism supporting high rhizosphere competence of the Bacillus strains. GC-MS analysis identified several VOC structures where the profiles differed depending on the growth medium. The ability of Bacillus strains to produce both volatile and soluble compounds for plant growth promotion and disease biocontrol provides examples of rhizosphere microbes as an important ecosystem service with high potential to support sustainable crop production.

Keywords

Arabidopsis thaliana; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; biocontrol; phytopathogen; rhizosphere; volatiles

Published in

FEMS Microbiology Ecology
2016, Volume: 92, number: 6, article number: fiw070

SLU Authors

• Shashidar, Asari

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Matzen, Staffan

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bejai, Sarosh

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Meijer, Johan

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network


UKÄ Subject classification

Plant Biotechnology
Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiw070

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/80309