Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 85 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are naturally occurring in roots of terrestrial plants. AM fungi are capable of benefiting the host plant through various mechanisms such as enhanced nutrient supply, alleviation of environmental stress and inhibition of plant fungal pathogens. AM fungal spore-associated bacteria have been previously isolated and shown to have plant growthpromoting (PGP) abilities by several authors. Some bacterial isolates are able to promote AM fungal colonisation of host plants and are known to be mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB). This study focused on the isolation of AM fungal spore-associated bacteria, characterization of the isolates according to plant growth promoting abilities and evaluation of their potential to enhance plant growth and mycorrhizal colonisation. AM fungi were extracted from soils sampled from natural indigenous forest sources, raspberry (Rubus idaeus cv. Heritage) and strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) farms in South Africa and from a raspberry (Rubus idaeus cv. Autumn Bliss) plantation in Argentina. A total of 52 sporeassociated bacteria were isolated from the external and internal surfaces of AM fungal spore morphotypes from the two countries. The bacterial isolates were evaluated for their PGP abilities such as phosphate solubilisation, indole-3-acetic acid production, ammonia production and inhibition of the fungal pathogens Fusarium oxysporum and Phythophthora nicotianae through mechanisms such as siderophore and/ or hydrolytic enzyme production. A total of 23 bacterial isolates from both South Africa and Argentina showing the most potential to be PGP, were identified molecularly as belonging to the genera Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Serratia and Staphylococcus. The ability of ten selected bacterial isolates showing multiple PGP capacity were evaluated for their plant growth promotion and mycorrhizal colonisation enhancement ability on raspberry (Rubus idaeus cv. Meeker). Significant differences in increased shoot and root dry weights were shown by the treatments compared to the uninoculated control. The highest increase in shoot and root dry weights were shown by South African (Bacillus mycoides) and Argentinean (Alcaligenes faecalis) isolates. AM fungal colonisation was significantly enhanced by the South African (Bacillus mycoides) and Argentinean (Micrococcus luteus) isolates compared to the AM fungal singly inoculated control.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of root colonization in tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Moneymaker, by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus intraradices Shenck and Smith, on alleviating salt stress. I postulated that AM symbiosis increases tomato plant performance to salt stress. Two greenhouse experiments were done according to a randomized factorial experimental design. The results showed a significantly higher level of AM root colonization that also occurred earlier in salt than non-salt treated plants. There were also positive interactions between root colonization levels and the alleviation of salt stress; these contributions resulted initially on higher root fresh mass (FM), later on shoot FM, and DM, and higher phosphorus and unchanged potassium concentrations in roots. The effects observed in salt-treated plants were significant when root colonization levels were significantly different than those observed in non-salt treated plants. This suggests a relationship between the level of root colonization and the alleviation of salt stress in plants. The attempt to use molecular techniques to detect early root colonization was quite successful in detecting the presence of G. intraradices in AM plants. However, it was not possible to detect the presence of the AM fungus as early as by classical root staining. This was observed presumably because sampling methods were different. In general, the results support the hypothesis that AM root colonization contributes to some extent to salt resistance of tomato plants.

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Wheat crops are known to be devastated by infections of soil-borne pathogens, especially the fungus <i>Gaeumannomyces graminis </i>var. <i>tritici</i> (Ggt) that causes ‘take-all’. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> have received much attention as biocontrol agents against Ggt, mainly due to their ability to produce antibiotics. The polycetide secondary antimicrobial metabolite 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) is produced by a number of fluorescent pseudomonad strains and is known to suppress Ggt. Another soil microbial group which have been under investigation for their biocontrol potential against Ggt, are arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which have the potential to out-compete Ggt and improve host plant nutrition and vigour. In this thesis, I report results from experiments that investigate interactions among AM fungi, Ggt, and DAPG-producing bacteria. A central hypothesis is that carbon flow from plants and AM fungi stimulates DAPG production. I therefore focus on interactions among AM fungi, Ggt and bacteria <i>in vivo</i> with wheat plants and <i>in vitro</i> with only fungal exudates. The synergistic co-operation of pseudomonads and AM fungi against Ggt was demonstrated and the fungal exudates (from AM and Ggt) produced both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> increased DAPG production by <i>P. fluorescens</i>. The ecology and functioning of beneficial AM fungi was found not to be influenced by the presence of either Ggt or DAPG, highlighting the potential sustainable suppression of “take all” in wheat rhizosphere.

No description available.

Bibliography: leaves 106-132. This project investigated the role of VAM fungi in the growth and nutrition of Linum usitatissimum L. in agricultural soils in southern Australia. It had two general aims: (1) to examine the role of indigenous VAM fungi in the growth and nutrition of linseed in field soil collected near Clare, South Australia; and (2) to examine the effect of VAM fungi on the Zn nutrition of Linola.

Bibliography: leaves 169-193. This study investigated whether both S. Calospora and Glomus sp. "City Beach" WUM 16 both increase the rate of transfer of phosphate (P) to the plant Allium porrum, and whether the addition of P to the soil has any effect on the uptake rates. The main experiment compared the fungi under two P levels in soils. It was found that in soil with no added P, S. calospora depressed plant growth in the early stages, but was increased in later harvests. G. sp. "City Beach" increased plant growth throughout. In soil with added P, both sets of plants produced growth depressions at early stages. The effect on growth due to mycorrhizal symbiosis was greater in plants grown in soil with no phosphate added. There were no significant differences between the two fungi with reflexes of P across the interfaces. There were however temporal differences. The isolate of S. calospora did promote a positive plant growth response in A. porrum and transfer P to the plant. Mycorrhizal arbuscules were examined and visualised using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope and 3D reconstructions performed. This allowed the surface area and volume of the arbuscules to be quantified in order to investigate differences between the fungi.

Many mycorrhizosphere microorganisms can produce plant growth regulating compounds in vitro. Plant growth regulating compounds are known to mediate root growth and development. In reforestation practices, conifer tree seedling growth and survival are linked to rapid root growth and development after outplanting. Multifactorial experiments were conducted to document variations in conifer seedling growth, survival and endogenous root indole acetic acid (IAA) content as influenced by exogenously applied plant growth regulators and inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungi capable of differential in vitro IAA and ethylene production. Capacity for in vitro IAA and ethylene production by mycorrhizal fungal isolates was partially correlated to levels of endogenous root IAA and root growth in inoculated seedlings as well as field transplanted nursery-grown seedlings. Although degree of correlation usually varied with fungal isolate as well as conifer species, IAA-mediated changes in root growth and seedling survival could indirectly be attributed to in vitro fungal plant growth regulator production capability. Exogenous application of plant growth regulating substances at different times during seedling growth and development resulted in significant changes in growth, survival and endogenous root IAA content of both experimental seedlings and field transplanted nursery-grown seedlings. Although effects varied with conifer species and stock types, IAA mediated increases in root growth and survival are projected to be cost beneficial. These results are not only indicative of the complexity of interactions which can occur between symbionts in the mycorrhizosphere but also suggest potential methods for manipulating plant growth regulator mediation of conifer root growth for practical purposes in reforestation. / Graduation date: 1994

Microorganisms and their interactions in soil play a critical role in nutrient transformations and cycling, and in sustaining soil productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a keystone group of fungi influencing nutrient cycling. In turn, the activity and composition of microorganisms in soil are influenced by management practices such as the choice of crop species and fertilization. Long-term effects of cropping, manuring and mineral fertilization on the soil-plant system were defined in three selected agro-ecosystems of Canada. A greenhouse experiment was also conducted to define the involvement of AMF in organic residue decomposition and nitrogen (N) mineralization.<p> In the greenhouse experiment, pasteurized soil was inoculated or not with a strain of <i>Glomus claroideum, G. clarum</i> or <i>G. intraradices</i>. 15N-labelled organic residue in a nylon mesh was buried in the soil. The fate of residue-N was determined after 24 weeks. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species enhanced mineralization of organic residue to different degrees. The highest recovery of mineralized N by plants (25%) occurred when inoculated with <i>G. clarum</i>. The AMF enhanced N-mineralization differentially leading to differential plant growth stimulation, differences in the C-to-N ratio of the decomposing organic residue, and in soil microbial community structure.<p> In a field trial conducted on a Brown Chernozemic soil at the Semiarid Prairies Agricultural Research Centre in Swift Current, SK, eight years of phosphorus (P) (0, 20 and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) application to alfalfa monoculture and alfalfa-Russian wildrye (RWR) dual culture modified the soil microbial community structure. Low levels of phosphorus (0 and 20 kg P2O5 ha-1) fertilization in alfalfa-RWR dual culture increased the abundance of fungivorous nematodes and grazing of AMF hyphae thus increasing the carbon drain from plants and ultimately reducing plant biomass.<p> In a sub-humid region of Saskatchewan on a a Black Chernozem soil, mineral N (0, 20 or 40 kg N ha-1) was applied for 10 years to pea grown continuously or in rotation with wheat. Lower yields in continuous-pea were associated with reduced abundance of beneficial Gram positive bacteria and AMF, and an increase in uptake of plant available Fe to toxic levels. These differences in soil properties were related to root rot which increased with years in continuous-pea. The soil environment in the continuous-pea rotation further led to lower organic carbon inputs, and to reduced soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activity indicating a negative impact on nutrient cycling.<p> In the south coastal region of Agassiz, British Columbia, dairy manure slurry (DMS) and ammonium nitrate (AN) had been applied on a Regosol at the same annual rate of mineral N (50 or 100 kg mineral N ha-1) for nine years to perennial tall fescue, followed by one year of stand renovation through reseeding without fertilization. The multi-year application of DMS improved soil organic C, soil organic N, light fraction of organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activity as compared to mineral fertilization but the DMS-related increase in soil yield potential was lost in the process of stand rejuvenation. Dairy manure slurry application based on the crop N requirement also increased soil phosphate indicating increased environmental hazard. In conclusion, long-term use of DMS in multi-cut tall fescue can increase soil quality parameters but can also increase the risk of eutrophication of water bodies.<p> Overall, data showed that higher levels of soil nutrients can select for certain bacteria while AMF and other bacteria are more abundant under low soil fertility. On the other hand, different soil microbial groups were associated with different soil enzyme activities. From this study, I succeded in proving my hypothesis that practice of fertilization and choice of crop influence soil microbial community structure which further affect soil functioning.