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Modulating rhizosphere colonisation, plant growth, soil nutrient availability and plant defense enzyme activity through Trichoderma viride-Azotobacter chroococcum biofilm inoculation in chickpea

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Abstract

Aims

Establishment of inoculated biofilms on root surfaces and their effect on plant enzyme activities and nutrient availability in the rhizosphere are less investigated. Two beneficial inoculants- Trichoderma spp. and Azotobacter spp., and the biofilm developed using them as partners, were evaluated in chickpea crop. The hypothesis tested was that the efficacy of the fungal-based bacterial biofilm in colonizing the root and rhizosphere may be better, as compared to their individual inoculation.

Methods

Scanning electron microscopy and root staining illustrated the colonisation of developed T. viride (Tv) – A. chroococcum (Az) biofilm and their partners. Inoculation effects were analysed on selected plant growth parameters, soil nutrients, plant enzyme activities and organic acid exudations in the rhizosphere soil.

Results

Tv-Az biofilm was observed to exhibit better colonization in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of chickpea, as compared to single inoculation. Significant enhancement of 30–45% in root volume, root proteins, root-shoot ratio, exudation of succinic and fumaric acids, soil available nutrients, along with two fold enhancement in the activity of plant enzymes was recorded, as compared to recommended doses of NPK fertilizers.

Conclusions

Tv-Az biofilm is a promising biofertilizing option for enhancing plant growth parameters, available soil nutrients, along with providing a savings of 25% nitrogenous fertilizers in chickpea.

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Abbreviations

EPS:

Extracellular polymeric substances

PO:

Peroxidase

PPO:

Polyphenol oxidase

CAT:

Catalase

PEPC:

Phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase

PAL:

L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase

DHA:

Dehydrogenase activity

RDF:

Recommended dose of NPK fertilizers

FDPK:

Full dose of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers

Az:

Azotobacter chroococcum

Tv:

Trichoderma viride

Tv-Az:

Trichoderma viride-Azotobacter chroococcum biofilm

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Post Graduate School and Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) (New Delhi, India) for providing fellowship towards the Ph.D. programme of the first author, who also is grateful to ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur for providing study leave. This investigation was supported partially by the funds from the Network Project on Microorganisms “Application of Microorganisms in Agricultural and Allied Sectors” (AMAAS) granted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi to Radha Prasanna. The authors are thankful to the Division of Microbiology (IARI, New Delhi), Division of Nematology (ICAR-IARI, New Delhi), National Phytotron Facility, ICAR-IARI for making available the facilities essential for undertaking this study. We thank Dr. Y.S. Shivay, Division of Agronomy, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for providing the facility for the soil analyses. We would like to thank Dr. Lata Nain, Principal Scientist, Division of Microbiology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi- 110012, India for her careful review of the manuscript, as well as valuable comments and suggestions.

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  1. Division of Microbiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Kulandaivelu Velmourougane, Radha Prasanna & Surender Singh

  2. Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India

    Gautam Chawla

  3. National Phytotron Facility, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India

    Arun Kumar

  4. ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM), Kusmaur, PO Kaitholi, Mau Nath Bhanjan, Uttar Pradesh, 275101, India

    Anil Kumar Saxena

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  1. Kulandaivelu Velmourougane
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Velmourougane, K., Prasanna, R., Singh, S. et al. Modulating rhizosphere colonisation, plant growth, soil nutrient availability and plant defense enzyme activity through Trichoderma viride-Azotobacter chroococcum biofilm inoculation in chickpea. Plant Soil 421, 157–174 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3445-0

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