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Evidence of Symbiosis Between the Soil Yeast Cryptococcus laurentii and a Sclerophyllous Medicinal Shrub, Agathosma betulina (Berg.) Pillans

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Abstract

The interaction between a common soil yeast, Cryptococcus laurentii, and a slow-growing medicinal plant adapted to low-nutrient soils, Agathosma betulina (Berg.) Pillans, was studied. C. laurentii CAB 578 was isolated from the rhizosphere of wild A. betulina, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) analysis revealed that the yeast was capable of producing polyamines, such as cadaverine and spermine, while growing in vitro in a chemically defined medium. Since the exogenous application of polyamines are known to impact on root growth, these findings supported the results obtained when axenic cultures of A. betulina seedlings were inoculated with C. laurentii CAB 578 and cultivated for 5 months under glasshouse conditions. The presence of the yeast increased root growth by 51%. Using soil dilution plates, it was demonstrated that yeast numbers were greater in the vicinity of the roots than in the bulk soil. In addition, fluoromicroscopy, in combination with the fluorescent probes Fungolight and Calcofluor white, revealed the presence of metabolic active yeast colonies on the rhizoplane 5 months after initiation of the experimentation. The study provided evidence for a symbiosis between C. laurentii and A. betulina.

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Acknowledgments

We hereby acknowledge the financial assistance of the Department of Labor of the South African Government and The South African National Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, MATIELAND, 7602, Western Cape, South Africa

    Karen J. Cloete & Alfred Botha

  2. Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 2180, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA

    Alexander J. Valentine

  3. LC-MS laboratory, J.C. Smuts building room 255, Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, MATIELAND, 7602, Western Cape, South Africa

    Marietjie A. Stander

  4. Agricultural Research Council-Roodeplaat, Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa

    Louisa M. Blomerus

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  1. Karen J. Cloete
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  4. Louisa M. Blomerus
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Correspondence to Alfred Botha.

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Cloete, K.J., Valentine, A.J., Stander, M.A. et al. Evidence of Symbiosis Between the Soil Yeast Cryptococcus laurentii and a Sclerophyllous Medicinal Shrub, Agathosma betulina (Berg.) Pillans. Microb Ecol 57, 624–632 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-008-9457-9

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