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Application of Native Bacillus sp. for Sustainable Jhum Agro-ecosystem

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bio-inoculants based on native Bacillus spp. have the potential to resuscitate the short fallow Jhum (slash and burn), degraded agro-ecosystem of Northeast India. Plant growth-promoting (PGP) native microbial isolates were investigated for reinvigorating growth of an upland rice variety (Bhalum). Of the 37 distinct bacterial isolates from fields left fallow for 2 years, 27% exhibited two or more PGP traits. Three native isolate strains SH2, MB1 and SS2 were selected as bio-inoculators, based on their levels of indole production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore and HCN production. They also showed no apparent toxicity on the tested rice seeds while enhancing the germination vigor of rice seeds with increased shoot length (39.7%), root length (37%) and plant height (32.7%) when compared to the untreated seeds. Under greenhouse conditions, plants derived from seeds treated with SH2, MB1 and SS2, displayed significant increments and enhanced growth biomass with 39.7% and 37.1% enhancement in shoot and root development versus the control. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences characterized SH2, MBI and SS2 as Bacillus luti, B. pacifus, and B. subtilis, respectively. The NCBI GenBank database and the phylogenetic dendrogram generated confirmed their identity with their related type strains. Their robust physiological response to temperature, pH and salt stress will bolster survival in the harsh slash-burn and shifting agriculture cycle. Consequently, application of SH2, MBI and SS2 would maximize growth productivity engendering the eco-restoration, sustainability and resolving low crop productivity of the short fallow Jhum agro-ecosystem

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by MoEF and CC, Govt of India (MoEFCC-NMHS/LG-2016/005) to carry out the present study. LS and SRJ thank DST-FIST[SR/FST/LSI-666/2016(C)] and UGC-SAP[F.4-7/2016/DRS-1(SAP-II)] for financial support to the parent department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India

    Lily Shylla & Santa Ram Joshi

  2. CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India

    Saroj Kanta Barik

Authors
  1. Lily Shylla
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  2. Saroj Kanta Barik
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  3. Santa Ram Joshi
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Contributions

SKB, SRJ and LS designed the study. LS carried out the research work. SKB and SRJ wrote the manuscript while LS analyzed the data.

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Correspondence to Santa Ram Joshi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

The study did not involve engineered or pathogenic organisms and hence no ethical approval was needed. The organisms are of GRAS category. All the authors had their consent to participate in the research study.

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Significance Statement The study explored native PGP Bacillus spp. as bioinoculants to improve productivity of the upland rice variety as sustainability means for the ever degrading traditional jhum system of agriculture.

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Shylla, L., Barik, S.K. & Joshi, S.R. Application of Native Bacillus sp. for Sustainable Jhum Agro-ecosystem. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 91, 799–810 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-021-01263-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-021-01263-w

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