• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.484-499
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• 2023

Plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria can be used as bioresources to enhance phytoremediation through their PGP traits and pollutant removal capacity. In this study, 49 rhizobacteria were primarily isolated from the rhizosphere of tall fescue grown in diesel- and heavy metal-contaminated soil. Their biosurfactant production, phosphate (P) solubilization, and siderophore production were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated to identify superior PGP bacteria. The optimal conditions for the growth of PGP bacteria and the stability of their PGP traits were a temperature of 35℃, a pH of 7, and 2 days of cultivation time. Four superior PGP bacteria (Pseudomonas sp. NL3, Bacillus sp. NL6, Bacillus sp. LBY14, and Priestia sp. TSY6) were finally selected. Pseudomonas sp. NL3 exhibited superior biosurfactant production and P solubilization. Bacillus sp. NL6 showed the highest P solubilization and superior production of biosurfactants and siderophores. Bacillus sp. LBY14 offered the best siderophore production and impressive P solubilization. Priestia sp. TSY6 had superior capacity for all three PGP traits. Through their secretion of beneficial PGP metabolites, the four bacteria isolated in this study have the potential for use in the phytoremediation of contaminated soil.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2020

The application of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) supports the growth of plants in contaminated soil while ureolytic bacteria can immobilise heavy metals by carbonate precipitation. Thus, dual treatment with such bacteria may be beneficial for plant growth and bioremediation in contaminated soil. This study aimed to determine whether the PGPR Pseudomonas fluorescens could work in synergy with ureolytic bacteria to assist with the remediation of cadmium (Cd)- and lead (Pb)-contaminated soils. Pot experiments were conducted to grow radish plants in Cd- and Pb-contaminated soils treated with PGPR P. fluorescens and the results were compared with dual inoculation of P. fluorescens combined with ureolytic Staphylococcus epidermidis HJ2. The removal rate of the metals from the soil was more than 83% for Cd and Pb by the combined treatment compared to 17% by PGPR alone. Further, the dual treatment reduced the metal accumulation in the roots by more than 80%. The translocation factors for Cd and Pb in plant tissues in both treatments remained the same, suggesting that PGPR combined with the carbonate precipitation process does not hamper the transfer of essential metal ions into plant tissues from the soil.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.408-418
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• 2021

The diversity and plant growth-promoting ability of fungal endophytes that are associated with five halophytic plant species (Phragmites australis, Suaeda australis, Limonium tetragonum, Suaeda glauca Bunge, and Suaeda maritima) growing in the Buan salt marsh on the west coast of South Korea have been explored. About 188 fungal strains were isolated from these plant samples' roots and were then studied with the use of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). The endophytic fungal strains belonged to 33 genera. Alternaria (18%) and Fusarium (12.8%), of the classes Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes, were most rampant in the coastal salt marsh plants. There was a higher diversity in fungal endophytes that are isolated from S. glauca Bunge than in isolates from other coastal salt marsh plants. Plant growth-promoting experiments with the use of Waito-C rice seedlings show that some of the fungal strains could encourage a more efficient growth than others. Furthermore, gibberellins (GAs) GA1, GA3, and GA9 were seen in the Sa-1-4-3 isolate (Acrostalagmus luteoalbus) culture filtrate with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.135-149
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• 2017

In order to obtain promising rice growth-promoting microbial strains that can be used as substitutes for chemical fertilizers, 172 bacterial strains were isolated from rice roots grown in Korean and Russian soils. Out of them, the strains KR076, KR083, KR181 and RRj228 showed plant growth-promoting activities on maize seedlings. Bacillus megaterium KR076 and Bacillus sp. KR083 showed both nitrogen-fixing and plant growth-promoting activities, while Rhizobium sp. KR181 and Pseudomonas sp. RRj228 appeared to support only plant growth-promotion, but not $N_2$ fixation. Especially, RRj228 showed high growth promoting activity at low concentrations. Inoculation studies with KR083 and RRj228 revealed a high affinity to the Japonica rice variety such as Junambyeo than the Korean Tongil type variety such as Arumbyeo. Both KR083 and RRj228 strains showed rhizoplane and/or endophytic colonization in Japonica and Tongil types rice when soaked with the bacterial suspension of $1.1{\times}10^5cfu\;ml^{-1}$ for six and twelve hours. However, the total bacterial cell numbers were higher in the roots of Japonica variety than in the Tongil type. In inoculation trials with Daesanbyeo rice variety, the seedlings inoculated with KR181 and RRj228 at the rate of $2.0{\times}10^6cfu\;ml^{-1}$ showed yield increment of 35% and 33% (p < 0.01), respectively, so that they contributed to the replacement of chemical fertilizer at half doses of N, $P_2O_5$, and $K_2O$ in pots. In Junambyeo rice seedlings, the strain RRj228, when inoculated with a cell suspension of $1.8{\times}10^6cfu\;ml^{-1}$, promoted 3.4% higher yield at 70% dose than at a full dose level of N $110kg\;ha^{-1}$ in field. These results suggest that the rhizobacteria KR181 and RRj228 are prospective strains for enhancing rice performance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1777-1789
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• 2019

Drought is more concerned to be a huge problem for agriculture as it affects plant growth and yield. Endophytic bacteria act as plant growth promoting bacteria that have roles for improving plant growth under stress conditions. The properties of four strains of endophytic bacteria were determined under water deficit medium with 20% polyethylene glycol. Bacillus aquimaris strain 3.13 showed high 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production; Micrococcus luteus strain 4.43 produced indole acetic acid (IAA). Exopolysaccharide production was high in Bacillus methylotrophicus strain 5.18 while Bacillus sp. strain 5.2 did not show major properties for drought response. Inoculation of endophytic bacteria into plants, strain 3.13 and 4.43 increased height, shoot and root weight, root length, root diameter, root volume, root area and root surface of Jerusalem artichoke grown under water limitation, clearly shown in water supply at 1/3 of available water. These increases were caused by bacteria ACC deaminase and IAA production; moreover, strain 4.43 boosted leaf area and chlorophyll levels, leading to increased photosynthesis under drought at 60 days of planting. The harvest index was high in the treatment with strain 4.43 and 3.13 under 1/3 of available water, promoting tuber numbers and tuber weight. Inulin content was unchanged in the control between well-watered and drought conditions. In comparison, inulin levels were higher in the endophytic bacteria treatment under both conditions, although yields dipped under drought. Thus, the endophytic bacteria promoted in plant growth and yield under drought; they had outstanding function in the enhancement of inulin content under well-watered condition.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.556-566
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• 2011

A total of 31 Acinetobacter isolates were obtained from the rhizosphere of Pennisetum glaucum and evaluated for their plant-growth-promoting traits. Two isolates, namely Acinetobacter sp. PUCM1007 and A. baumannii PUCM1029, produced indole acetic acid (10-13 ${\mu}g$/ml). A total of 26 and 27 isolates solubilized phosphates and zinc oxide, respectively. Among the mineral-solubilizing strains, A. calcoaceticus PUCM1006 solubilized phosphate most efficiently (84 mg/ml), whereas zinc oxide was solubilized by A. calcoaceticus PUCM1025 at the highest solubilization efficiency of 918%. All the Acinetobacter isolates, except PUCM1010, produced siderophores. The highest siderophore production (85.0 siderophore units) was exhibited by A. calcoaceticus PUCM1016. Strains PUCM1001 and PUCM1019 (both A. calcoaceticus) and PUCM1022 (Acinetobacter sp.) produced both hydroxamate-and catechol-type siderophores, whereas all the other strains only produced catechol-type siderophores. In vitro inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum under iron-limited conditions was demonstrated by the siderophore-producing Acinetobacter strains, where PUCM1018 was the most potent inhibitor of the fungal phytopathogen. Acinetobacter sp. PUCM1022 significantly enhanced the shoot height, root length, and root dry weights of pearl millet seedlings in pot experiments when compared with controls, underscoring the plant-growth-promoting potential of these isolates.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.262-266
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• 2009

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial native soil bacteria that colonize plant roots and result in increased plant growth. The objective of this study was to determine the plant growth promotion in canola plants by selected PGPR strain 13-1 under low temperature condition. The seed treatment of strain 13-1 was enhanced plant height and root elongation on canola plant at low temperature condition. This result determined that a selected strain of PGPR can enhance plant growth and root propagation under extremely low temperature conditions. Thus, this PGPR strain extends their role on plant growth promotion on canola until low temperature condition for practical applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1527-1535
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• 2018

Bacterial strain BAS23 was isolated from rice field soil and identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Based on dual culture method results, the bacterium BAS23 exhibited potent in vitro inhibitory activity on mycelial growth against a broad range of dirty panicle fungal pathogens of rice (Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitectum and Helminthosporium oryzae). Cell-free culture of BAS23 displayed a significant effect on germ tube elongation and mycelial growth. The highest dry weight reduction (%) values of C. lunata, H. oryzae and F. semitectum were 92.7%, 75.7%, and 68.9%, respectively. Analysis of electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed that the lipopeptides were iturin A with a C14 side chain (C14 iturinic acid), and a C15 side chain (C15 iturinic acid), which were produced by BAS23 when it was cultured in nutrient broth (NB) for 72 h at $30^{\circ}C$. BAS23, the efficient antagonistic bacterium, also possessed in vitro multiple traits for plant growth promotion and improved rice seedling growth. The results indicated that BAS23 represents a useful option either for biocontrol or as a plant growth-promoting agent.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2014

The necessity to develop economical and eco-friendly technologies is steadily increasing. Plant growth promoting rhizomicrobial strains PGPR are a group of microorganisms that actively colonize plant roots and increase plant growth and yield. Pot experiments were used to investigate the potential of some rhizobacterial strains to enhance the Brassica rapa growth. Microbial strains were successfully isolated from the rhizosphere of Panax ginseng and characterized based on its morphological and plant growth promotion characters. Surface disinfected seeds of Wisconsin Fast B. rapa were inoculated with the selected PGPR microorganisms. The different pots treatments were inoculated by its corresponding PGPR ($10^7cfu\;mL^{-1}$) and incubated in the growth chamber at $25^{\circ}C$ and 65% RH, the light period was adjusted to 24 hours (day). NPK chemical fertilizer and trade product (EMRO, USA) of effective microorganisms as well as un-inoculated control were used for comparison. Plants harvested in 40 days were found to have significant increase in leaf chlorophyll units and plant height and also in dry weight of root and shoot in the inoculated seedlings. Root and shoot length and also leaf surface area significantly were increased by bacterial inoculation in sterile soil. The study suggests that Rhodobacter capsulatus and Azotobacter chroococcum are beneficial for B. rapa growth as they enhance growth and induced IAA production and phosphorus solubilization. This study presents some rhizomicrobial strains that significantly promoted growth of Wisconsin Fast Plant B. rapa in pot experiment under different soil conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1790-1797
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• 2017

In the present study, we demonstrate that the growth of salt-stressed pepper plants is improved by inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Three PGPR strains (Microbacterium oleivorans KNUC7074, Brevibacterium iodinum KNUC7183, and Rhizobium massiliae KNUC7586) were isolated from the rhizosphere of pepper plants growing in saline soil, and pepper plants inoculated with these PGPR strains exhibited significantly greater plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and total chlorophyll content than non-inoculated plants. In addition, salt-stressed pepper plants that were inoculated with B. iodinum KNUC7183 and R. massiliae KNUC7586 possessed significantly different total soluble sugar and proline contents from non-inoculated controls, and the activity of several antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase) was also elevated in PGPR-treated plants under salt stress. Overall, these results suggest that the inoculation of pepper plants with M. oleivorans KNUC7074, B. iodinum KNUC7183, and R. massiliae KNUC7586 can alleviate the harmful effects of salt stress on plant growth.