<i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA)
The application of beneficial bacteria may present an alternative approach to chemical plant protection and fertilization products as they enhance growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant growth-promoting bacteria are found in the rhizosphere, epiphytically or endophytically (Plan...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/206 |
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| author | Polina C. Tsalgatidou Eirini-Evangelia Thomloudi Kallimachos Nifakos Costas Delis Anastasia Venieraki Panagiotis Katinakis |
| author_facet | Polina C. Tsalgatidou Eirini-Evangelia Thomloudi Kallimachos Nifakos Costas Delis Anastasia Venieraki Panagiotis Katinakis |
| author_sort | Polina C. Tsalgatidou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The application of beneficial bacteria may present an alternative approach to chemical plant protection and fertilization products as they enhance growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant growth-promoting bacteria are found in the rhizosphere, epiphytically or endophytically (Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria, PGPEB). In the present study, 36 out of 119 isolated endophytic bacterial strains from roots, leaves and flowers of the pharmaceutical plant <i>Calendula officinalis</i> were further identified and classified into <i>Bacillus</i>, <i>Pseudomonas</i>, <i>Pantoea</i>, <i>Stenotrophomonas</i> and <i>Rhizobium</i> genera. Selected endophytes were evaluated depending on positive reaction to different plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, motility, survival rate and inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi in vitro and ex vivo (tomato fruit). Bacteria were further assessed for their plant growth effect on <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> seedlings and on seed bio-primed tomato plantlets, in vitro. Our results indicated that many bacterial endophytes increased seed germination, promoted plant growth and changed root structure by increasing lateral root density and length and root hair formation. The most promising antagonistic PGPEB strains (Cal.r.29, Cal.l.30, Cal.f.4, Cal.l.11, Cal.f.2.1, Cal.r.19 and Cal.r.11) are indicated as effective biological control agents (BCA) against <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> on detached tomato fruits. Results underlie the utility of beneficial endophytic bacteria for sustainable and efficient crop production and disease control. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:38:00Z |
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| id | doaj.art-4711ed89b1144e6e87b13f8a9889b475 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:38:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-4711ed89b1144e6e87b13f8a9889b4752023-11-30T23:37:57ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-01-0111120610.3390/microorganisms11010206<i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA)Polina C. Tsalgatidou0Eirini-Evangelia Thomloudi1Kallimachos Nifakos2Costas Delis3Anastasia Venieraki4Panagiotis Katinakis5Laboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Agriculture, University of the Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, GreeceLaboratory of Plant Pathology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceThe application of beneficial bacteria may present an alternative approach to chemical plant protection and fertilization products as they enhance growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant growth-promoting bacteria are found in the rhizosphere, epiphytically or endophytically (Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria, PGPEB). In the present study, 36 out of 119 isolated endophytic bacterial strains from roots, leaves and flowers of the pharmaceutical plant <i>Calendula officinalis</i> were further identified and classified into <i>Bacillus</i>, <i>Pseudomonas</i>, <i>Pantoea</i>, <i>Stenotrophomonas</i> and <i>Rhizobium</i> genera. Selected endophytes were evaluated depending on positive reaction to different plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, motility, survival rate and inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi in vitro and ex vivo (tomato fruit). Bacteria were further assessed for their plant growth effect on <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> seedlings and on seed bio-primed tomato plantlets, in vitro. Our results indicated that many bacterial endophytes increased seed germination, promoted plant growth and changed root structure by increasing lateral root density and length and root hair formation. The most promising antagonistic PGPEB strains (Cal.r.29, Cal.l.30, Cal.f.4, Cal.l.11, Cal.f.2.1, Cal.r.19 and Cal.r.11) are indicated as effective biological control agents (BCA) against <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> on detached tomato fruits. Results underlie the utility of beneficial endophytic bacteria for sustainable and efficient crop production and disease control.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/206<i>Calendula officinalis</i>plant growth promoting endophytic bacteriabiological control<i>Botrytis cinerea</i>detached fruit assay |
| spellingShingle | Polina C. Tsalgatidou Eirini-Evangelia Thomloudi Kallimachos Nifakos Costas Delis Anastasia Venieraki Panagiotis Katinakis <i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA) Microorganisms <i>Calendula officinalis</i> plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria biological control <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> detached fruit assay |
| title | <i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA) |
| title_full | <i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA) |
| title_fullStr | <i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA) |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA) |
| title_short | <i>Calendula officinalis</i>—A Great Source of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (PGPEB) and Biological Control Agents (BCA) |
| title_sort | i calendula officinalis i a great source of plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria pgpeb and biological control agents bca |
| topic | <i>Calendula officinalis</i> plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria biological control <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> detached fruit assay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/206 |
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