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Formation of biologically active substances by rhizosphere bacteria and their effect on plant growth

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Abstract

Nine out of seventeen strains of bacteria with a pronounced effect on seed germination and on seedling growth, isolated from root surfaces and rhizosphere soil of maize, were selected for a study on the formation of biologically active substances. β-Indole acetic acid (45–72 μg/1.000 ml) was produced by four strains, gibberelline-like substances (1.0–60.0 μg/1.000ml) by all strains, biotin and pantothenic acid by the majority of strains and nicotinic acid by five strains. Amino acids were formed by all strains but in low amounts. Four strains produced growth inhibitors. The highest amounts of biologically active substances were found in cultures ofPseudomonas fluorescens andBacillus brevis. The various cultures ofPseudomonas fluorescens differed in their capability to produce biologically active substances. The majority of bacterial cultures or their supernatants significantly stimulated the germination of seeds and some of them significantly affected the growth of plants. Inoculation of maize seeds with strainsPseudomonas fluorescens andChromobacterium violaceum significantly increased the yield of dry matter of plants.

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  1. A. Hussain

    Present address: Soil Science Department, West Pakistan Agricultural University, Lyallpur, Pakistan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague 4

    A. Hussain & V. Vančura

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  1. A. Hussain
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  2. V. Vančura
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Hussain, A., Vančura, V. Formation of biologically active substances by rhizosphere bacteria and their effect on plant growth. Folia Microbiol 15, 468–478 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02880191

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02880191

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