Interspecific hybridization and inoculation with Pantoea eucalypti improve forage performance of Lotus crop species under alkaline stress

This study was designed to elucidate the physiological responses of three Lotus forage accessions to alkaline stress, and the influence of inoculating with Pantoea eucalypti endophyte strain on alkaline stress mitigation. A diploid L. corniculatus (Lc) accession, L. tenuis (Lt), and the interspecific hybrid Lt × Lc obtained from these two parental lines were exposed to alkaline stress (pH 8.2). Both Lt and the Lt × Lc hybrid are alkaline-tolerant compared to Lc, based on observations that dry mass was not reduced under stress, and there were no chlorosis symptoms on leaf blades. In all three Lotus accessions, Fe2+ concentration under stress decreased in aerial parts and simultaneously increased in roots. Inoculation with P. eucalypti considerably increased Fe2+ content in shoots of all three Lotus forage species under alkaline treatment. Photochemical efficiency of PSII was affected in Lc accession only when exposed to alkaline treatment. However, when cultivated under alkalinity with inoculation, plants recovered and had photosynthetic parameters equivalent to those in the control treatment. Together, the results highlight the importance of inoculation with P. eucalypti, which contributes significantly to mitigating alkaline stress. All results provide useful information for improving alkaline tolerance traits of Lotus forage species and their interspecific hybrids.

Contrasting response of two Lotus corniculatus L. accessions to combined waterlogging-saline stress

Waterlogging and salinity impair crop growth and productivity worldwide, with their combined effects being larger than the additive effects of the two stresses separately. Here, a common forage tetraploid Lotus corniculatus (cv. San Gabriel) and a diploid L. corniculatus accession, collected from a coastal area with high frequency of waterlogging-saline stress events, were evaluated for tolerance to waterlogging, salinity and these two stresses combined. We hypothesize that, due to its environmental niche, the diploid accession would show better adaptation to combined waterlogging-saline stress compared to the tetraploid L. corniculatus. Plants were evaluated under control conditions, waterlogging, salinity and a combined waterlogging-saline treatment for 33 days. Shoot and root growth were assessed, together with chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange measurements. Results showed that salinity and waterlogging effects were more severe for the tetraploid accession, with a larger effect being observed under the combined stress condition. Concentrations of Na⁺ , Cl^- and K⁺ were measured in apical and basal leaves, and in roots. A larger accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^- was observed under both saline and combined stress treatments for the tetraploid L. corniculatus, for which ion toxicity effects were evident. The expression of CLC gene, coding for a Cl^- transporter, was only increased in diploid L. corniculatus plants in response to the combined stress condition, suggesting that ion compartmentalization mechanisms were induced in this accession. Thus, this recently characterized L. corniculatus could be used for the introduction of new tolerance traits in other Lotus species used as forage.

Salt effects on functional traits in model and in economically important Lotus species

A common stress on plants is NaCl-derived soil salinity. Genus Lotus comprises model and economically important species, which have been studied regarding physiological responses to salinity. Leaf area ratio (LAR), root length ratio (RLR) and their components, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf mass fraction (LMF) and specific root length (SRL) and root mass fraction (RMF) might be affected by high soil salinity. We characterised L. tenuis, L. corniculatus, L. filicaulis, L. creticus, L. burtii and L. japonicus grown under different salt concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 mm NaCl) on the basis of SLA, LMF, SRL and RMF using PCA. We also assessed effects of different salt concentrations on LAR and RLR in each species, and explored whether changes in these traits provide fitness benefit. Salinity (150 mm NaCl) increased LAR in L. burtii and L. corniculatus, but not in the remaining species. The highest salt concentration caused a decrease of RLR in L. japonicus Gifu, but not in the remaining species. Changes in LAR and RLR would not be adaptive, according to adaptiveness analysis, with the exception of SLA changes in L. corniculatus. PCA revealed that under favourable conditions plants optimise surfaces for light and nutrient acquisition (SLA and SRL), whereas at higher salt concentrations they favour carbon allocation to leaves and roots (LMF and RMF) in detriment to their surfaces. PCA also showed that L. creticus subjected to saline treatment was distinguished from the remaining Lotus species. We suggest that augmented carbon partitioning to leaves and roots could constitute a salt-alleviating mechanism through toxic ion dilution.

Akaline, saline and mixed saline-alkaline stresses induce physiological and morpho-anatomical changes in Lotus tenuis shoots

Saline, alkaline and mixed saline-alkaline conditions frequently co-occur in soil. In this work, we compared these plant stress sources on the legume Lotus tenuis, regarding their effects on shoot growth and leaf and stem anatomy. In addition, we aimed to gain insight on the plant physiological status of stressed plants. We performed pot experiments with four treatments: control without salt (pH = 5.8; EC = 1.2 dS·m(-1)) and three stress conditions, saline (100 mM NaCl, pH = 5.8; EC = 11.0 dS·m(-1)), alkaline (10 mM NaHCO3, pH = 8.0, EC = 1.9 dS·m(-1)) and mixed salt-alkaline (10 mM NaHCO3 + 100 mM NaCl, pH = 8.0, EC = 11.0 dS·m(-1)). Neutral and alkaline salts produced a similar level of growth inhibition on L. tenuis shoots, whereas their mixture exacerbated their detrimental effects. Our results showed that none of the analysed morpho-anatomical parameters categorically differentiated one stress from the other. However, NaCl- and NaHCO3 -derived stress could be discriminated to different extents and/or directions of changes in some of the anatomical traits. For example, alkalinity led to increased stomatal opening, unlike NaCl-treated plants, where a reduction in stomatal aperture was observed. Similarly, plants from the mixed saline-alkaline treatment characteristically lacked palisade mesophyll in their leaves. The stem cross-section and vessel areas, as well as the number of vascular bundles in the sectioned stem were reduced in all treatments. A rise in the number of vessel elements in the xylem was recorded in NaCl-treated plants, but not in those treated exclusively with NaHCO3.

Phosphate-solubilization mechanism and in vitro plant growth promotion activity mediated by Pantoea eucalypti isolated from Lotus tenuis rhizosphere in the Salado River Basin (Argentina)

AIMS

To isolate and characterize phosphate-solubilizing strains from a constrained environment such as the Salado River Basin and to assess their phosphate-solubilizing mechanisms, to further selection of the most promising strains to inoculate and improve the implantation and persistence of Lotus tenuis in the most important area devoted to meat-cow production in Argentina.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fifty isolates were obtained and through BOX-PCR analysis, 17 non-redundant strains were identified. Subsequently, they were found to be related to Pantoea, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Enterobacter genera, via 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. This was in agreement with the clusters obtained by antibiotic resistance analysis. All isolates were tested for their phosphate-solubilizing activity and selected strains were inoculated onto L. tenuis plants. The most efficient isolate, was identified as Pantoea eucalypti, a novel species in terms of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The isolates obtained in this study showed a significant in vitro plant-growth promoting activity onto Lotus tenuis and the best of them solubilizes phosphate mainly via induction of the metabolism through secretion and oxidation of gluconic acid.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The use of these bacteria as bioinoculants, alone or in combination with nitrogen-fixing micro-organisms, could be a sustainable practice to facilitate the nutrient supply to Lotus tenuis plants and preventing negative side-effects such as eutrophication.

Plant-growth-promoting compounds produced by two agronomically important strains of Azospirillum brasilense, and implications for inoculant formulation

We evaluated phytohormone and polyamine biosynthesis, siderophore production, and phosphate solubilization in two strains (Cd and Az39) of Azospirillum brasilense used for inoculant formulation in Argentina during the last 20 years. Siderophore production and phosphate solubilization were evaluated in a chemically defined medium, with negative results. Indole 3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA(3)), and abscisic acid (ABA) production were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ethylene, polyamine, and zeatin (Z) biosynthesis were determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-fluorescence and -UV), respectively. Phytohormones IAA, Z, GA(3), ABA, ethylene, and growth regulators putrescine, spermine, spermidine, and cadaverine (CAD) were found in culture supernatant of both strains. IAA, Z, and GA(3) were found in all two strains; however, their levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in Cd (10.8, 2.32, 0.66 microg ml(-1)). ABA biosynthesis was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in Az39 (0.077 microg ml(-1)). Ethylene and polyamine CAD were found in all two strains, with highest production in Cd cultured in NFb plus L-methionine (3.94 ng ml(-1) h(-1)) and Az39 cultured in NFb plus L-lysine (36.55 ng ml(-1) h(-1)). This is the first report on the evaluation of important bioactive molecules in strains of A. brasilense as potentially capable of direct plant growth promotion or agronomic yield increase. Az39 and Cd showed differential capability to produce the five major phytohormones and CAD in chemically defined medium. This fact has important technological implications for inoculant formulation as different concentrations of growth regulators are produced by different strains or culture conditions.

Cheese whey: an alternative growth and protective medium for Rhizobium loti cells

Cheese whey (CW)-based growth medium efficiently protects Rhizobium loti cells during freezing and desiccation and can maintain their growth in a manner similar to that of traditional mannitol-based medium (YEM). The cheese-whey-based medium (CW) improved viability when used to re-suspend cell pellets kept at -20 degrees C and -80 degrees C and resulted in the survival of over 90% of the cells. Moreover, bacterial pellets obtained from cells grown in CW withstand desiccation better than cells grown in YEM. Survival was over 60% after 30 days at 4 degrees C. No differences were observed in nodulation efficiency between YEM-grown and CW-grown cells. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) protocols are presented for total protein profile analyses of sweet and acid cheese whey.

The effect of polyamine biosynthesis inhibition on growth and differentiation of the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

We studied the effects of several polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors on growth, differentiation, free polyamine levels and in vivo and in vitro activity of polyamine biosynthesis enzymes in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and alpha-difluoromethylarginine (DFMA) were potent inhibitors of mycelial growth. The effect of DFMO was due to inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). No evidence for the existence of an arginine decarboxylase (ADC) pathway was found. The effect of DFMA was partly due to inhibition of ODC, presumably after its conversion into DFMO by mycelial arginase, as suggested by the high activity of this enzyme detected both in intact mycelium and mycelial extracts. In addition, toxic effects of DFMA on cellular processes other than polyamine metabolism might have occurred. Cyclohexylamine (CHA) slightly inhibited mycelial growth and caused an important decrease of free spermidine associated with a drastic increase of free putrescine concentration. Methylglyoxal bis-[guanyl hydrazone] (MGBG) had no effect on mycelial growth. Excepting MGBG, all the inhibitors strongly decreased sclerotial formation. Results demonstrate that sclerotial development is much more sensitive to polyamine biosynthesis inhibition than mycelial growth. Our results suggest that mycelial growth can be supported either by spermidine or putrescine, while spermidine (or the putrescine/spermidine ratio) is important for sclerotial formation to occur. Ascospore germination was completely insensitive to the inhibitors.

Comparative analysis of storage proteins of Lotus spp. seeds by CGE and SDS-PAGE

L. tenuis and L. corniculatus seeds are morphologically very similar but their purchase prices are quite different. Chromosome number counting is the only test used thus far in laboratories for the identification of these seeds. Recently, the flavonol's pattern has been used as a criterion for differentiation. In the present work, we studied the storage protein patterns of different Lotus seed samples by capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), as an alternative method, comparing it with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The seeds were treated according to International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) recommendations. CGE separations were performed using an uncoated capillary of 18 cm effective length and 50 microns i.d. and the Bio-Rad Protein Kit (Hercules, CA, U.S.A.). On-line detection was carried out at 220 nm.

Partial characterization and photolabeling of a Rhizobium meliloti polysaccharide methyltransferase with S-adenosylmethionine

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) has been used to directly cross-link a polysaccharide specific methyltransferase isolated from Rhizobium meliloti HA. This peculiar enzyme transfers a methyl group to the 2-O-galacturonosyl residue of a teichuronic type polysaccharide and was very unstable. The apparent Km for SAM was 0.46 mM. The Hill coefficient, n, was 1. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 8.2 and requires Mn2+ at concentration of 2 mM. The enzyme was inactivated by saline concentrations of 120 mM or greater and was eluted from Superose columns with an apparent molecular weight of 28 kDa. The isoelectric point was close to 7.0. To elucidate the relationship between chemical structure and catalytic function, (3H)SAM was cross-linked to the enzyme and the enzymatic activity was assayed in presence and in absence of commercial substrate analogs. Cross-linking was performed by direct irradiation of enzyme and (3H)SAM. The uptake of radioactivity was linear up to about 20 min and then reached a plateau. This irreversible junction is specific, as shown by a number of different criteria. Several competitive inhibitors were able to affect this photoactivated cross-linkage. As the concentration of inhibitors increased, both, the level of photolabeling and enzyme activity always decreased. The SAM-enzyme adduct was shown to be a single protein band by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Simultaneous determination of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine by capillary zone electrophoresis

A reproducible, rapid procedure for the simultaneous quantitative separation of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine by capillary zone electrophoresis has been developed. Separations were performed by using an uncoated capillary of 60 cm effective length and 50 microm ID, 40 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 2.50, as background electrolyte solution, and 30 kV. On-line detection was carried out at 254 nm. Under the conditions selected we resolved a standard solution containing S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine in a run time shorter than 8 min. A mass detection limit in the range of 10 fmol was achieved. Adenosyl-L-methionine, S[methyl-3H] has also been assayed under the same experimental conditions. Other related compounds did not show interference, including those derived from the hydrolysis of S-adenosylmethionine. The present method allows simultaneous determination of these compounds, which play an important role in many microbiological and enzymatic research studies.

Direct determination of glutathione in human blood by micellar electrokinetic chromatography: simultaneous determination of lipoamide and lipoic acid

A reproducible, rapid procedure for the determination of glutathione in human blood by micellar electrokinetic chromatography has been developed. Whole blood samples were deproteinized with 5% w/v sulfosalicylic acid (final concentration). After centrifugation, the supernatant was directly injected for analysis, without further derivatization. Separations were performed by using an uncoated capillary of 30 cm effective length and 50 microns internal diameter (ID), 50 mM Tris-HCl, 30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), pH 7.00, as running buffer, and 10-20 kV. On-line detection was carried out at 214 nm and a detection limit in the range of femtomoles was achieved. Under the same experimental conditions, we resolved a mixed standard solution containing glutathione in its oxidize and reduced forms, lipoamide and alpha-lipoic acid. The corresponding migration times were reproducible. The present method allows rapid determination of these compounds, which play a critical role in oxidative stress, in cellular defense against injurious agents and whose levels are related to the toxicology and metabolism of several toxins and drugs, such as antineoplastic agents.