In Vitro Plant Growth Promotion Assays on Variovorax species
Poster Number
5C
Research or Creativity Area
Natural Sciences
Abstract
PGPR stands for plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, which usually refers to bacteria that will form symbiotic relationships with plants and induce an effect on them. PGPR is generally known to aid plants with the absorption of nutrients, thus aiding in the overall growth of the organism by eliminating the stresses of a limiting nutrient such as phosphate, for example. More specifically, the traits in question that are being identified in these experiments will be phosphate solubilization and 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. Phosphate solubilization provides bioavailable phosphate to support plant growth, while ACC deaminase activity in PGPR also aids in the plant’s ability to overcome stress by decreasing ACC levels and preventing the buildup of the hormone ethylene which inhibits root growth.
Agar plates containing insoluble phosphate were created using a modification of the National Botanical Research institute’s phosphate growth medium (NBRIP). Two different formulation of this medium were made, using either Yeast Extract or Freshwater medium + Glucose as the base. In addition, Freshwater medium was made with ACC as the sole source of nitrogen. Cultures frozen at -80 degrees Celcius were thawed and inoculated into these media to evaluate the phosphate solubilization and ACC deaminase activity of the cultures. These cultures were compared to E. coli controls that lack both of these PGPR activities. The nineteen strains of Variovorax that are currently cultured in the lab are being evaluated for these two PGP activities. Experiments are ongoing and we will use these media formulations to determine optimal testing strategies going forward.
Location
Don and Karen DeRosa University Center (DUC) Poster Hall
Start Date
27-4-2024 10:30 AM
End Date
27-4-2024 12:30 PM
In Vitro Plant Growth Promotion Assays on Variovorax species
Don and Karen DeRosa University Center (DUC) Poster Hall
PGPR stands for plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, which usually refers to bacteria that will form symbiotic relationships with plants and induce an effect on them. PGPR is generally known to aid plants with the absorption of nutrients, thus aiding in the overall growth of the organism by eliminating the stresses of a limiting nutrient such as phosphate, for example. More specifically, the traits in question that are being identified in these experiments will be phosphate solubilization and 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. Phosphate solubilization provides bioavailable phosphate to support plant growth, while ACC deaminase activity in PGPR also aids in the plant’s ability to overcome stress by decreasing ACC levels and preventing the buildup of the hormone ethylene which inhibits root growth.
Agar plates containing insoluble phosphate were created using a modification of the National Botanical Research institute’s phosphate growth medium (NBRIP). Two different formulation of this medium were made, using either Yeast Extract or Freshwater medium + Glucose as the base. In addition, Freshwater medium was made with ACC as the sole source of nitrogen. Cultures frozen at -80 degrees Celcius were thawed and inoculated into these media to evaluate the phosphate solubilization and ACC deaminase activity of the cultures. These cultures were compared to E. coli controls that lack both of these PGPR activities. The nineteen strains of Variovorax that are currently cultured in the lab are being evaluated for these two PGP activities. Experiments are ongoing and we will use these media formulations to determine optimal testing strategies going forward.
