Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of indoleacetic acid and tryptophan following aqueous chloroformate derivatisation of Rhizobium exudates

Structural elucidation of derivatives of polyfunctional metabolites after methyl chloroformate derivatization by high-resolution mass spectrometry gas chromatography. Application to microbiota metabolites

Metabolomics has become an essential discipline in the study of microbiome, emerging gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry as the most mature, robust, and reproducible analytical technique. Silylation is the most widely used chemical derivatization strategy, although it has some limitations. In this regard, alkylation by alkyl chloroformate offers some advantages, such as a rapid reaction, milder conditions, better reproducibility, and the generation of more stable derivatives. However, commercial spectral libraries do not include many of the alkyl derivatives, mainly for polyfunctional metabolites, which can form multiple derivatives. That introduces a huge bias in untargeted metabolomics leading to common errors such as duplicates, unknowns, misidentifications, wrong assignations, and incomplete results from which non-reliable findings and conclusions will be retrieved. For this reason, the purpose of this study is to overcome these shortcomings and to expand the knowledge of metabolites in general and especially those closely related to the gut microbiota through the thorough study of the reactivity of the different functional groups in real matrix derivatized by methyl chloroformate, a common representative alkylation reagent. To this end, a systematic workflow has been developed based on exhaustive structural elucidation, along with computational simulation, and taking advantage of the high sensitivity and high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Several empirical rules have been established according to chemically different entities (free fatty acids, amino acids, polyols, sugars, amines, and polyfunctional groups, etc.) to predict the number of derivatives formed from a single metabolite, as well as their elution order and structure. In this work, some methyl chloroformate derivatives not previously reported as well as the mechanisms to explain them are given. Extremely important is the interconversion of E- and Z- geometric isomers of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids (case of fumaric-maleic and case of citraconic-mesaconic acids), or the formation of cycled derivatives for amino acids, as well as common metabolites, as in the case of serine and cysteine, and many others.

Exploring the optimal electropolymerization strategy for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction fibers using pyrrole-dopamine copolymers

In-situ electropolymerization of conductive polymers on the surface of stainless-steel substrates is a well-established but promising procedure for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) tools. Herein, different electrochemical methods including constant potential (CP), constant potential pulse (CPP), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were utilized to fabricate SPME fibers by in-situ electropolymerization of pyrrole-dopamine copolymers (PPY/PDA) on the surface of stainless-steel fibers. The coated fibers were characterized and applied for the direct-immersion SPME (DI-SPME) sampling of ultra-trace amounts of plant hormones including abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA3), and indole acetic acid (IAA) in fruit juices, followed by HPLC-UV determination. The results showed that CV electropolymerization is significantly more efficient than the two other methods. The coatings created by the CV method were satisfactorily uniform, adhesive, and durable and exhibited higher extraction performance compared to the CP and CPP procedures. The important experimental variables of the proposed DI-SPME-HPLC method were evaluated and optimized using response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design. The developed method showed wide-range linearities, spanning from 0.05 to 20μg mL-1 for GA3, and 0.02 to 20μg mL-1 for ABA and IAA. The limits of detection were obtained 0.01μg mL-1 for GA3, and 0.005μg mL-1 for ABA and IAA. The fiber was successfully employed for the simultaneous DI-SPME-HPLC analysis of plant hormones in fruit juice samples.

Effect of rhizobium and gibberellin on the production of hydroponic green forage of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) variety quiñequeli

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of rhizobium and gibberellin on the production of hydroponic green forage from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) variety quiñequeli, four variables were measured: plant height, biomass weight, grass weight and root weight. The treatments were T0: 0%, T1: 10%, T2: 20%, T3: 30% and T4: 40% of Rhizobium before germination and Gibberellin T0: 0g, T1: 2.4g; T2: 3.3g; T3: 4.3 and T4: 5.3g each treatment with 6 repetitions, three applications on days 5, 10, 15 and 20 of growth. Data were analyzed with DCA, ANOVA and DUNCAN's multiple comparisons test; the results obtained were: first measurement with rhizobium without gibberellin there were no statistical differences, second and third measurement with Gibberellin application did not present statistical differences and the fourth measurement presented statistical difference (α=0.05), average height of the plant with a mean of 12.82 cm, T4 was higher, in biomass a statistical difference was obtained with a mean of 3.056 kg, T3 was higher, weight of grass and root did not present statistical differences; concluding that the use of rhizobium and gibberellin could be a usable alternative in the production of hydroponic green fodder, to alleviate the problems of fodder scarcity in dry season, its use being recommended in high Andean livestock.

Analysis of Tryptophan and Tyrosine in the Presence of Other Bioactive Molecules Using Generalized Rank Annihilation Method on Excitation-emission Fluorescence Spectroscopic Data Sets

Excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEMF) spectroscopy can describe the fluorescence activity of a molecular mixture in a single three dimensional plot describing the variation of excitation and emission spectra as function of increasing emission and excitation wavelength, respectively. Generalized rank annihilation method (GRAM) is a chemometric technique that is known to have second order advantage i.e.. it can be easily used to analyze the analyte of interest even in the presence of the unknown interferences. The present work proposes a simple and sensitive analytical procedure by exploring the advantages associated with EEMF and GRAM technique to analyze the two amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan, in the presence of complex fluorescence background originating from other bioactive molecules. The obtained results of GRAM analysis on EEMF was found to make precise quantification of tryptophan and tyrosine in different unknown samples.

Nodule-Enriched GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 Enzymes Have Distinct Substrate Specificities and Are Important for Proper Soybean Nodule Development

Legume root nodules develop as a result of a symbiotic relationship between the plant and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria in soil. Auxin activity is detected in different cell types at different stages of nodule development; as well as an enhanced sensitivity to auxin inhibits, which could affect nodule development. While some transport and signaling mechanisms that achieve precise spatiotemporal auxin output are known, the role of auxin metabolism during nodule development is unclear. Using a soybean root lateral organ transcriptome data set, we identified distinct nodule enrichment of three genes encoding auxin-deactivating GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 (GH3) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) amido transferase enzymes: GmGH3-11/12, GmGH3-14 and GmGH3-15. In vitro enzymatic assays showed that each of these GH3 proteins preferred IAA and aspartate as acyl and amino acid substrates, respectively. GmGH3-15 showed a broad substrate preference, especially with different forms of auxin. Promoter:GUS expression analysis indicated that GmGH3-14 acts primarily in the root epidermis and the nodule primordium where as GmGH3-15 might act in the vasculature. Silencing the expression of these GH3 genes in soybean composite plants led to altered nodule numbers, maturity, and size. Our results indicate that these GH3s are needed for proper nodule maturation in soybean, but the precise mechanism by which they regulate nodule development remains to be explained.

Simultaneous extraction and HPLC determination of 3-indole butyric acid and 3-indole acetic acid in pea plant by using ionic liquid-modified silica as sorbent

In this study, ionic liquid-modified silica was used as sorbent for simultaneous extraction and preconcentration of 3-indole butyric acid and 3-indole acetic acid in pea plants. The effect of some parameters such as pH and ionic strength of sample solution, amount of sorbent, flow rate of aqueous sample solution and eluent solution, concentration of eluent solution, and temperature were studied for each hormone solution. Percent extraction of 3-indole butyric acid and 3-indole acetic acid was strongly affected by pH of aqueous sample solution. Ionic strength of aqueous phase and temperature showed no serious effects on extraction efficiency of studied plant hormones. Obtained breakthrough volume was 200mL for each of studied hormones. Preconcentration factor for spectroscopic and chromatographic determination of studied hormones was 100 and 4.0×10(3) respectively. Each solid sorbent phase was reusable for almost 10 times of extraction/stripping procedure. Relative standard deviations of extraction/stripping processes of 3-indole butyric acid and 3-indole acetic acid were 2.79% and 3.66% respectively. The calculated limit of detections for IBA and IAA were 9.1×10(-2)mgL(-1) and 1.6×10(-1)mgL(-1) respectively.

A rapid method for profiling of volatile and semi-volatile phytohormones using methyl chloroformate derivatisation and GC-MS

Phytohormones are central components of complex signalling networks in plants. The interplay between these metabolites, which include abscisic acid (ABA), auxin (IAA), ethylene, jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA), regulate plant growth and development and modulate responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Few methods of phytohormone profiling can adequately quantify a large range of plant hormones simultaneously and without the requirement for laborious or highly specialised extraction protocols. Here we describe the development and validation of a phytohormone profiling protocol, based on methyl-chloroformate derivatisation of the plant metabolites and analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We describe the analysis of 11 metabolites, either plant phytohormones or intermediates of phytohormone metabolism; ABA, azelaic acid, IAA, JA and SA, and the phytohormone precursors 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, 13-epi-12-oxophytodienoic acid (13-epi-OPDA), linoleic acid and linolenic acid, and validate the isolation from foliar tissue of the model legume Medicago truncatula. The preparation is insensitive to the presence of water, facilitating measurement of the volatile metabolites. Quantitation was linear over four orders of magnitude, and the limits of detection between two and 10 ng/mL for all measured metabolites using a single quadrupole GC-MS.

Quo vadis plant hormone analysis?

Plant hormones act as chemical messengers in the regulation of myriads of physiological processes that occur in plants. To date, nine groups of plant hormones have been identified and more will probably be discovered. Furthermore, members of each group may participate in the regulation of physiological responses in planta both alone and in concert with members of either the same group or other groups. The ideal way to study biochemical processes involving these signalling molecules is 'hormone profiling', i.e. quantification of not only the hormones themselves, but also their biosynthetic precursors and metabolites in plant tissues. However, this is highly challenging since trace amounts of all of these substances are present in highly complex plant matrices. Here, we review advances, current trends and future perspectives in the analysis of all currently known plant hormones and the associated problems of extracting them from plant tissues and separating them from the numerous potentially interfering compounds.

Genes conferring copper resistance in Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 also promote the growth of Medicago lupulina in copper-contaminated soil

Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020, isolated from root nodules of Medicago lupulina growing in gold mine tailings in the northwest of China, displayed both copper resistance and growth promotion of leguminous plants in copper-contaminated soil. Nevertheless, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms responsible for copper resistance in S. meliloti CCNWSX0020 remained uncharacterized. To investigate genes involved in copper resistance, an S. meliloti CCNWSX0020 Tn5 insertion library of 14,000 mutants was created. Five copper-sensitive mutants, named SXa-1, SXa-2, SXc-1, SXc-2, and SXn, were isolated, and the disrupted regions involved were identified by inverse PCR and subsequent sequencing. Both SXa-1 and SXa-2 carried a transposon insertion in lpxXL (SM0020_18047), encoding the LpxXL C-28 acyltransferase; SXc-1 and SXc-2 carried a transposon insertion in merR (SM0020_29390), encoding the regulatory activator; SXn contained a transposon insertion in omp (SM0020_18792), encoding a hypothetical outer membrane protein. The results of reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) combined with transposon gene disruptions revealed that SM0020_05862, encoding an unusual P-type ATPase, was regulated by the MerR protein. Analysis of the genome sequence showed that this P-type ATPase did not contain an N-terminal metal-binding domain or a CPC motif but rather TPCP compared with CopA from Escherichia coli. Pot experiments were carried out to determine whether growth and copper accumulation of the host plant M. lupulina were affected in the presence of the wild type or the different mutants. Soil samples were subjected to three levels of copper contamination, namely, the uncontaminated control and 47.36 and 142.08 mg/kg, and three replicates were conducted for each treatment. The results showed that the wild-type S. meliloti CCNWSX0020 enabled the host plant to grow better and accumulate copper ions. The plant dry weight and copper content of M. lupulina inoculated with the 5 copper-sensitive mutants significantly decreased in the presence of CuSO4.

Development of a method for the analysis of four plant growth regulators (PGRs) residues in soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of four plant growth regulators (PGRs) residues in soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts. The sample preparation procedure was based on a QuEChERS method. The method showed excellent linearity (r(2) ≥ 0.9985) and precision (RSDs ≤ 13.0%). Average recoveries of four PGRs ranged between 74.9% and 106.3% at spiking levels 0.05, 0.5 and 1 mg kg(-1). The LODs and LOQs were in the ranges of 0.27-9.3 μg kg(-1) and 0.90-31 μg kg(-1), respectively. The procedure was applied to 18 bean sprout samples, and benzyladenine was found in some of the analyzed samples.

Indole-3-acetic acid biosensor based on G-rich DNA labeled AuNPs as chemiluminescence probe coupling the DNA signal amplification

A highly sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for detection of phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was developed by using G-rich DNA labeled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as CL probe coupling the DNA signal amplification technology. The IAA antibody was immobilized on carboxyl terminated magnetic beads (MBs). In the presence of IAA, antibody labeled AuNPs were captured by antibody functionalized MBs. The DNA on AuNPs is released by a ligand exchange process induced by the addition of DTT. The released DNA is then acted as the linker and hybridized with the capture DNA on MBs and probe DNA on AuNPs CL probe. The CL signal is obtained via the instantaneous derivatization reaction between a specific CL reagent, 3,4,5-trimethoxyl-phenylglyoxal (TMPG), and the G-rich DNA on AuNPs CL probe. IAA can be detected in the concentration range from 0.02 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL, and the limit of detection is 0.01 ng/mL.

Genome sequence and mutational analysis of plant-growth-promoting bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 Isolated from a zinc-lead mine tailing

The plant-growth-promoting bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286, isolated from the nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in zinc-lead mine tailings, both displayed high metal resistance and enhanced the growth of Robinia plants in a metal-contaminated environment. Our goal was to determine whether bacterial metal resistance or the capacity to produce phytohormones had a larger impact on the growth of host plants under zinc stress. Eight zinc-sensitive mutants and one zinc-sensitive mutant with reduced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production were obtained by transposon mutagenesis. Analysis of the genome sequence and of transcription via reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) combined with transposon gene disruptions revealed that ZntA-4200 and the transcriptional regulator ZntR1 played important roles in the zinc homeostasis of A. tumefaciens CCNWGS0286. In addition, interruption of a putative oligoketide cyclase/lipid transport protein reduced IAA synthesis and also showed reduced zinc and cadmium resistance but had no influence on copper resistance. In greenhouse studies, R. pseudoacacia inoculated with A. tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 displayed a significant increase in biomass production over that without inoculation, even in a zinc-contaminated environment. Interestingly, the differences in plant biomass improvement among A. tumefaciens CCNWGS0286, A. tumefaciens C58, and zinc-sensitive mutants 12-2 (zntA::Tn5) and 15-6 (low IAA production) revealed that phytohormones, rather than genes encoding zinc resistance determinants, were the dominant factor in enhancing plant growth in contaminated soil.

Development of sample preparation method for auxin analysis in plants by vacuum microwave-assisted extraction combined with molecularly imprinted clean-up procedure

A novel sample preparation method for auxin analysis in plant samples was developed by vacuum microwave-assisted extraction (VMAE) followed by molecularly imprinted clean-up procedure. The method was based on two steps. In the first one, conventional solvent extraction was replaced by VMAE for extraction of auxins from plant tissues. This step provided efficient extraction of 3-indole acetic acid (IAA) from plant with dramatically decreased extraction time, furthermore prevented auxins from degradation by creating a reduced oxygen environment under vacuum condition. In the second step, the raw extract of VMAE was further subjected to a clean-up procedure by magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) beads. Owing to the high molecular recognition ability of the magnetic MIP beads for IAA and 3-indole-butyric acid (IBA), the two target auxins in plants can be selectively enriched and the interfering substance can be eliminated by dealing with a magnetic separation procedure. Both the VMAE and the molecularly imprinted clean-up conditions were investigated. The proposed sample preparation method was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatogram and fluorescence detection for determination of IAA and IBA in peas and rice. The detection limits obtained for IAA and IBA were 0.47 and 1.6 ng/mL and the relative standard deviation were 2.3% and 2.1%, respectively. The IAA contents in pea seeds, pea embryo, pea roots and rice seeds were determined. The recoveries were ranged from 70.0% to 85.6%. The proposed method was also applied to investigate the developmental profiles of IAA concentration in pea seeds and rice seeds during seed germination.

Characterization of a copper-resistant symbiotic bacterium isolated from Medicago lupulina growing in mine tailings

A root nodule bacterium, Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020, resistant to 1.4 mM Cu2+ was isolated from Medicago lupulina growing in mine tailings. In medium supplied with copper, this bacterium showed cell deformation and aggregation due to precipitation of copper on the cell surface. Genes similar to the copper-resistant genes, pcoR and pcoA from Escherichia coli, were amplified by PCR from a 1.4-Mb megaplasmid. Inoculation with S. meliloti CCNWSX0020 increased the biomass of M. lupulina grown in medium added 0 and 100 mg Cu2+ kg(-1) by 45.8% and 78.2%, respectively, and increased the copper concentration inside the plant tissues grown in medium supplied with 100 μM Cu2+ by 39.3%, demonstrating that it is a prospective symbiotic system for bioremediation purposes.

Optimised separation procedures for the simultaneous assay of three plant hormones in liquid biofertilisers

INTRODUCTION

The overuse of petrochemical-based synthetic fertilisers has caused detrimental effects to soil, water supplies, foods and animal health. This, in addition to increased awareness of organic farming, has generated considerable interest in the evaluation of renewable biofertilisers.

OBJECTIVE

The three objectives of the current research were: (1) to evaluate and optimise a solid phase extraction procedure for extraction of three plant hormones, IAA, GA(3) and ABA from two model biofertilisers produced from coconut shells and pineapple peels; (2) to develop an HPLC analysis procedure for the simultaneous separation and quantification of three plant hormones (IAA, GA(3) and ABA); and (3) to evaluate the changes in three plant hormones levels at four different fermentation time periods and varying number of general bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast.

RESULT

An optimised procedure for sample preparation, separation and simultaneous analysis of three plant hormones [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and abscisic acid (ABA)] produced in liquid biofertilisers was developed. This method involves sample cleanup using a Sep-pack OasisMAX cartridge containing mixed-mode anion-exchange and reverse-phase sorbents that provided optimum recovery of 85.6, 91.9 and 94.3%, respectively, for the three hormones, IAA, GA(3), and ABA. Baseline separation of three hormones was achieved using mobile phase consisting of 1% acetic acid and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) at pH 4.0. The amounts of hormones produced in liquid biofertilisers were influenced by fruit types, fermentation time and total number of general bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. The quantities of three plant hormones produced during fermentation correlated well with the total number of microorganisms present in the liquid biofertilisers.

CONCLUSION

A simple and rapid sample preparation procedure followed by RP-HPLC with UV detection was optimised and developed for simultaneous quantification and identification of three plant hormones namely, IAA, GA(3) and ABA in the liquid biofertilisers. This procedure allows quantification of the three plant hormones in their natural states without any prior derivatisation step. The results presented illustrate that the contents of the three plant hormones depended on the type of fruit wastes, fermentation time and the number of microorganisms found in liquid biofertilisers. This method can be extended to determine the quantity of three hormones in other matrices. This assay procedure will aid in the development of liquid biofertilisers, a valuable alternative fertilisers to promote plant growth. This process will help farmers to reduce production cost and pollution problems.

Auxin biosynthesis in pea: characterization of the tryptamine pathway

One pathway leading to the bioactive auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is known as the tryptamine pathway, which is suggested to proceed in the sequence: tryptophan (Trp), tryptamine, N-hydroxytryptamine, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld), IAA. Recently, this pathway has been characterized by the YUCCA genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and their homologs in other species. YUCCA is thought to be responsible for the conversion of tryptamine to N-hydroxytryptamine. Here we complement the genetic findings with a compound-based approach in pea (Pisum sativum), detecting potential precursors by gas chromatography/tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, we have synthesized deuterated forms of many of the intermediates involved, and have used them to quantify the endogenous compounds, and to investigate their metabolic fates. Trp, tryptamine, IAAld, indole-3-ethanol, and IAA were detected as endogenous constituents, whereas indole-3-acetaldoxime and one of its products, indole-3-acetonitrile, were not detected. Metabolism experiments indicated that the tryptamine pathway to IAA in pea roots proceeds in the sequence: Trp, tryptamine, IAAld, IAA, with indole-3-ethanol as a side-branch product of IAAld. N-hydroxytryptamine was not detected, but we cannot exclude that it is an intermediate between tryptamine and IAAld, nor can we rule out the possibility of a Trp-independent pathway operating in pea roots.

Strain competition and agar affect the interaction of rhizobia with rice

Competition assays with Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 and its GFP-labelled pSymA cured and deleted derivatives, SmA818 and SmA146, demonstrated that Sm1021 could still inhibit rice seedling growth even when outnumbered by a large excess of the noninhibitory cured or deleted strain. The wild-type strain Sm1021 also inhibited the growth of its noninhibitory pSymA-cured strain SmA818(gfp) and its pSymA-deleted strain SmA146(gfp) in a manner suggesting that Sm1021 produced a bacteriocin-like substance. The production of, and resistance to, this substance seemed to be pSymA-associated, but it was not the cause of killing in competition experiments on rice, suggesting that the killing of SmA818(gfp) and SmA146(gfp) was medium dependent. The addition of agar in liquid F10 medium at concentrations ≤0.4% (m/v) abolished the rice growth inhibition of strain Sm1021 and Sm1021(gfp). The increased medium viscosity at higher agar concentrations decreased the diffusion of gases and small molecules through the media. Thus, the low agar concentrations may mimic waterlogged soil conditions leading to the production of inhibitory compounds by the bacterial strains under microaerobic conditions.

Identification and quantitation of auxins in plants by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Auxin is an important phylohormone, which regulates specific physiological responses such as division, elongation and differentiation of cells. A new method using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-ITMS) has been developed for identification and quantitation of four auxins. Under the optimum conditions, four auxins (indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-propionic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and 1-naphthylacetic acid) were completely separated and quantitated within 7 min with a minimum detection limit of 8.0 ng mL(-1) with relative standard deviations lower than 5.0%. This method also has been applied to analysis of auxins in Chinese cabbage where, even with a complicated serious background perturbation due to the natural biological matrix, the mean recoveries ranged from 77.5% to 99.8%. Finally, we discuss the MS-relevant properties of the identified auxins in detail.

An impedance immunosensor for the detection of the phytohormone abscisic acid

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is the major player in mediating the adaptation of plants to stress. Previously developed phytohormonal biosensors usually employed indirect detection of the products of conjugated oxidase reactions. A label-free electrochemical impedance immunosensor for ABA detection was developed using an anti-ABA antibody adsorbed directly on a porous nanogold film. The film was produced electrochemically on a glassy carbon electrode in 0.008 mol/L hydrogen tetrachloroaurate solution containing 0.004 mol/L lead acetate with an applied potential of -0.5 V (versus Ag/AgCl) for 50 s. The anti-ABA antibody was immobilized onto the porous nanogold through electrostatic adsorption and covalent conjugation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to characterize the successful construction of the porous nanogold film and the stepwise modification of the glassy carbon electrode. The concentration increase of the antigen brought about a decrease of the interfacial electron transfer, which also meant an increase of the impedance signal. The experimental parameters pH, antibody incubation time, and antibody concentration were optimized. The results showed significant linearity R = 0.9942, with the content of ABA in the range 0.5-5,000 ng/mL with a detection limit at about 0.1 ng/mL.

Phylogenetic assignment and mechanism of action of a crop growth promoting Rhizobium radiobacter strain used as a biofertiliser on graminaceous crops in Russia

The taxonomic position of "Agrobacterium radiobacter strain 204," used in Russia as a cereal crop growth promoting inoculant, was derived by a polyphasic approach. The phenotypic analyses gave very similar biochemical profiles for strain 204, Rhizobium radiobacter NCIMB 9042 (formerly the A. radiobacter type strain) and R. radiobacter NCIMB 13307 (formerly the Agrobacterium tumefaciens type strain). High percentage similarities, above the species separation level, were observed between the 16S rRNA, fusA and rpoB housekeeping gene sequences of these three strains, and the genomic DNA-DNA hybridisation of strain 204 against the type strain of R. radiobacter NCIMB 9042 was over 70%. Strain 204 is not phytopathogenic and it does not fix atmospheric N2 or form a physical association with the roots of barley. Strain 204 culture and culture supernatant stimulated the rate of mobilisation of seed reserves of barley in darkness and promoted its shoot growth in the light. Gibberellic acid (GA) concentration was 1.3 microM but indole acetic acid was undetectable (< 50 nM) in cultures of strain 204. It is concluded that strain 204 is phenotypically and genotypically very similar to the current R. radiobacter type strain and that the mechanism of its effect on growth of cereals is via the production of plant growth promoting substances. GA is likely to play an important role in the strain 204 stimulation of early growth of barley.

Rhizobium-initiated rice growth inhibition caused by nitric oxide accumulation

Isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii (the clover root-nodule endosymbiont) from the Nile River delta have been found to infect rice roots and colonize the intercellular spaces of the rice roots. Some of these isolates inhibit rice seedling growth but one in particular, R4, has been found in rice roots which develop and grow normally. We present evidence that the induced growth inhibition is due to a toxic accumulation of nitric oxide (NO), from the reduction of nitrate, and suggest that the reason that R4 does not inhibit rice root growth is because it is capable of completing the reduction of NO through to nitrogen gas. Thus, strain R4 is a candidate for engineering into a future biological nitrogen fixation system within these roots.

Plasmid-associated genes in the model micro-symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 affect the growth and development of young rice seedlings

Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021 and its closely related strain Rm2011 inhibit rice seedling (Oryza sativa L. cv. Pelde) growth and development under certain rice-growing conditions. Experiments showed that inoculation of seedlings with approximately less than 10 cells of 1021 was sufficient to cause this inhibition. By using a series of plasmid-cured and plasmid-deleted derivatives of Rm2011, it was found that interactions between genes encoded on pSymA, and possibly pSymB, of Rm2011, affected rice growth and development by affecting both/either the plant and/or the bacteria. Further studies found that genes potentially related to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis and nitrate metabolism, encoded on pSymA, were involved in rice growth inhibition in Sm1021- and Sm2011-treated rice seedlings. We conclude that the rice growth inhibition by S. meliloti Sm1021 is pSymA-associated and is induced by environmental nitrate.