Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria affect the growth and nutrient uptake of Fraxinus americana container seedlings

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2013-05, Vol.97 (10), p.4617-4625
• Main Authors: Liu, Fangchun, Xing, Shangjun, Ma, Hailin, Du, Zhenyu, Ma, Bingyao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Amino acids; Analysis; Bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Containers; Dry matter; Environmental Biotechnology; Environmental impact; Enzymes; Farming systems; Fertilizer application; Fertilizers; Forests; Fraxinus - growth & development; Fraxinus - metabolism; Fraxinus americana; Growth (Plants); Health aspects; Life Sciences; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Morphology; Nutrient uptake; Organic acids; Plant growth; Plant Roots - metabolism; Rhizobiaceae - physiology; Seedlings; Studies
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4255-1

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are important catalysts that regulate the functional properties of agricultural systems. However, there is little information on the effect of PGPR inoculation on the growth and nutrient accumulation of forest container seedlings. This study determined the effects of a growth medium inoculated with PGPR on the nutrient uptake, nutrient accumulation, and growth of Fraxinus americana container seedlings. PGPR inoculation with fertilizer increased the dry matter accumulation of the F. americana aerial parts with delayed seedling emergence time. Under fertilized conditions, the accumulation time of phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) in the F. americana aerial parts was 13 days longer due to PGPR inoculation. PGPR increased the maximum daily P and K accumulations in fertilized seedlings by 9.31 and 10.44 %, respectively, but had little impact on unfertilized ones. Regardless of fertilizer application, the root exudates, namely sugars, amino acids, and organic acids significantly increased because of PGPR inoculation. PGPR inoculation with fertilizer increased the root, shoot, and leaf yields by 19.65, 22.94, and 19.44 %, respectively, as well as the P and K contents by 8.33 and 10.60 %, respectively. Consequently, the N, P, and K uptakes increased by 19.85, 31.97, and 33.95 %, respectively. Hence, PGPR inoculation with fertilizer can be used as a bioenhancer for plant growth and nutrient uptake in forest container seedling nurseries.