Search

The association between microbes and plant roots involves a complex chemical dialogue featured by IAA and flavonoids in addition to other signals. Current study is focused on the role of IAA and flavonoids as essential elements of the chemical dialogue between an endophytic fungus and maize roots. The strain was isolated from the leaves of Withania somnifera and was identified as Aspergillus fumigatus greenish by 18S rDNA sequence. Culture filtrate of the strain contained phyotstimulant (IAA, ammonia and ACC) and signaling compounds including IAA, flavonoids and flavonols. The strain effectively colonized the maize roots and enhanced its growth. In order, to determine the effect of IAA and flavonoids on the ability of the endophyte to colonize maize roots, we inhibited the release of IAA and flavonoids in maize separately which reduced the colonization of endophyte in maize root to 66% and 55% of the untreated control. Similarly, application of IAA in combination with endophyte enhanced root colonization by 90% in zone of cell division, 66% in the zone of elongation and 30% in the zone of maturation. These findings determined that IAA and flavonoids are among the key players of the complex chemical dialogue between plant root and fungal endophyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beneficial bacterialiving in the rhizosphere pose several implications on plant growth promotion and are highly desirable for sustainable agriculture. In the current study, we explored the ameliorative capacity ofLeifsonia xyliSE134, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), against copper (Cu) stress on tomato grown under elevated Cu levels of 50 and 100 mM. Initially,L. xyliSE134 modulated innate gibberellins (GAs) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) metabolism in response to elevated Cu toxicity. The IAA contents increased, whereas that of bioactive GAs decreased in relation to Cu concentration gradient in the broth media. Furthermore, exposure to elevated Cu caused detrimental effects on the physiological attributes as revealed by attenuated shoot length, root length, stem diameter, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and chlorophyll content in non-inoculated tomatoes as compared toL. xyliSE134 inoculated plants. The growth rescuing effect ofL. xyliSE134 may be attributed to the modulation of endogenous amino acids contents in plants, such as glutamic acid, threonine, phenylalanine, glycine, proline, and arginine. Moreover,L. xyliSE134 inoculation stimulated total polyphenol and flavonoid content, reduced super oxide dismutase activity, strongly inhibited Cu, and increased phosphorus and iron content in plants grown under elevated Cu stress. In the absence of Cu toxicity,L. xyliSE134 significantly enhanced amino acid content, improved total flavonoids, and increased phosphorus content, thus resulting in higher plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]