Endophytic Colonization of tomato plants by Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and its effect on crops improvement and yield promotion | ||||
| Delta Journal of Science | ||||
| Article 9, Volume 41, Issue 1, June 2019, Page 92-106 PDF (2.93 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Research and Reference | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/djs.2020.139232 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| Wagih A. El-Shouny1; Samia Shabanah1; Rupert G. Fray2; Nathalie Narraidoo3; Enas M. El-Ballat* 1 | ||||
| 1Botany and Microbiology Department, Tanta University, Egypt | ||||
| 2School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK | ||||
| 3Azotic Technologies Ltd, BioCity, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, UK | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (G.d) is a nitrogen-fixing, endophytic and non-nodulating bacterium isolated from sugarcane. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different G.d concentrations on tomato plants grown at very low nitrogen levels to examine its ability to colonize plant tissues and improve crop yield. Tomato seeds were inoculated with different doses of G.d (109, 1010, and 1011 CFU/ml) and grown in the glasshouse under nitrogen deficiency conditions. Estimation of endophytic bacterial population was performed by bio-PCRs analysis using specific primers for G.d. Three months after sowing, significant variations in the phenotypes and biomass production were observed: the inoculated plants with 1010 and 1011 of G.d-Nfix-3%sucrose showed increased plant height, root length, nitrogen content, and flower number. They also exhibited a healthier phenotype and higher fruit production in comparison to 109 of G.d-Nfix-3%sucrose and non-inoculated control plants. These results showed that coating tomato seeds with specific concentrations of G.d-Nfix-3%sucrose (1010 and 1011 CFU/ml) was an effective enhancer for crop production at low nitrogen levels and proved the ability of G.d to enhance production of tomato fruits. In conclusion, this study aimed to develop a natural nitrogen fixing seed coating technology to provide a sustainable solution to fertilizer overuse and nitrogen pollution. This technology is environmentally friendly because it based on a food-grade bacterium (G.d) derived from sugarcane. It aims to address the need of international market for sustainable agricultural fertilizers. Moreover, it provides a cost benefit to the farmers via reduced fertilizer costs and improved crops yields. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Endophytes; G. diazotrophicus; Colonization; crop improvement; N-fix®; Ailsa Craig tomato; Micro Tom tomato; PGPB | ||||
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