Colonization and yield promotion of tomato by Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • María Flavia Luna - , Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Author)
  • Julieta Aprea - , Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Author)
  • Juan Manuel Crespo - , Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Author)
  • José Luis Boiardi - , Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Author)

Abstract

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a N 2-fixing bacterium originally associated with sugarcane and considered a Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) for diverse crops. Aiming to find PGPB for horticultural species, tomato seedlings were inoculated with G. diazotrophicus to test its ability to colonize and to evaluate whether it can enhance fruit production. Tomato seedlings were inoculated with G. diazotrophicus PAL 5 and UAP 5541/pRGS561 (containing the marker gene gusA) under gnotobiotic conditions. In greenhouse experiments tomato seedlings were only inoculated with G. diazotrophicus PAL 5. Colonization was monitored by plating bacterial suspensions from homogenized tissues and by microscopic localization of bacteria after staining with gus substrate. Tomato yields were determined quantifying total tomato production throughout the crop in two different seasons. Root and stems endophytic population was higher than 4.0logCFUg -1 fresh weight. Microscopic localization showed colonizing bacteria in sites of emergence of lateral roots, root hairs, and stomata. Inoculated plants significantly increased both number and weight of fruit production as compared to non-inoculated controls. These results show the ability of G. diazotrophicus to stimulate fruit production of tomato plants.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-229
Number of pages5
JournalApplied soil ecology : a section of agriculture, ecosystems & environment
Volume61
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-8749-7878/work/142251294

Keywords

Keywords

  • Endophytes, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Inoculation, PGPB, Tomato

Library keywords