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N2-Fixation and Seedling Growth Promotion of Lodgepole Pine by Endophytic Paenibacillus polymyxa

  • Plant Microbe Interactions
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Abstract

We inoculated lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia (Dougl.) Engelm.) with Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2R, a diazotrophic bacterium previously isolated from internal stem tissue of a naturally regenerating pine seedling to evaluate biological nitrogen fixation and seedling growth promotion by this microorganism. Seedlings generated from pine seed inoculated with strain P2b-2R were grown for up to 13 months in a N-limited soil mix containing 0.7 mM available N labeled as Ca(15NO3)2 to facilitate detection of N2-fixation. Strain P2b-2R developed a persistent endophytic population comprising 102–106 cfu g−1 plant tissue inside pine roots, stems, and needles during the experiment. At the end of the growth period, P2b-2R had reduced seedling mortality by 14 % and 15N foliar N abundance 79 % and doubled foliar N concentration and seedling biomass compared to controls. Our results suggest that N2-fixation by P. polymyxa enhanced growth of pine seedlings and support the hypothesis that plant-associated diazotrophs capable of endophytic colonization can satisfy a significant proportion of the N required by tree seedlings growing under N-limited conditions.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by an NSERC CGSD3 and a BC Min. Adv. Ed. PLGSF to RA and an NSERC Discovery Grant to CPC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IL-7, BC Children’s Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada

    Richa Anand

  2. Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 248-2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Christopher Chanway

  3. Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3041-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Richa Anand, Susan Grayston & Christopher Chanway

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  1. Richa Anand
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  2. Susan Grayston
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  3. Christopher Chanway
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Correspondence to Christopher Chanway.

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Anand, R., Grayston, S. & Chanway, C. N2-Fixation and Seedling Growth Promotion of Lodgepole Pine by Endophytic Paenibacillus polymyxa . Microb Ecol 66, 369–374 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0196-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0196-1

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