JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Representatives of fluorescent pseudomonad strains were assessed for their antagonistic activity against the blackleg of potato pathogen, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. atrosepticum. Tested strains belonged mainly to Pseudomonas fluorescens Biovars III, IV and V and they could produce inhibition zone on PDA medium against P. c. subsp. atrosepticum ranging from 1.5-5.5cm. Six selected strains were used in two concentrations 10⁷-10⁹ and 10¹⁰-10¹² colony forming units to control potato blackleg disease caused by P. c. subsp. atrosepticum under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that all strains applied could reduce the disease ranging from 46 to 71 percent. There was no significant difference among strains and their two concentrations under greenhouse conditions. Most of the strains applied increased potato fresh weight and all of them produced antibiotic and siderophore compounds in vitro.

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In order to study the biological control of carnation vascular wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi, 141 bacterial strains were isolated from carnation rhizosphere, and their antagonistic activity was evaluated against fungal pathogen in dual culture method. Among the tested strains, 16 strains showed antagonistic activity seven of them with more activity were selected for further investigation. Based on phenotypic features, strains E31 and E57 were identified as Bacillus cereus E76, E93, E102 and E121 as Bacillus subtilis and E130 as Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. III. All bacterial strains inhibited mycelial growth of F. o. f. sp. dianthi by production of non-volatile and volatile metabolites under laboratory condition. Microscopical analysis showed that all strains caused deformation of pathogen mycelium, and metabolites of these strains reduced conidia production rate and as well as the ability of conidia germination. In the in vivo tests, in sterilized and nonsterilized soils, the effect of bacterial strains was studied on disease severity, percentage of healthy plants and the growth rate of plants using soil inoculating and root-dipping into bacteria-methyl cellulose mixture methods. The E57 and E121 strains, in both methods, and E130 in root-dipping method showed highest effect on decreasing of disease severity and increasing of healthy plants percentage. Strains E57, E121 and E130 significantly increased total dry weight of carnation. Maximum dry weight was obtained by E57 and E130 in soil inoculating and root –dipping methods respectively.

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Microbial transport in soil is critical in different ways, especially in groundwater contamination and bioremediation of groundwater or soil. The main objectives of this research were quantitative study of bacterial transport and deposition under saturated conditions in calcareous soils. A series of column leaching experiments were conducted. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Cl- were measured. After leaching experiment the bacteria was measured in difference layers of the soil columns. The HYDRUS-1D one- and two-site kinetic attachment-detachment models were used to fit and predict transport and deposition of bacteria in soil columns experiments. The results indicated that two-site kinetic model leads to better prediction breakthrough curves and bacteria retention in the calcareous soil in comparison with one-site kinetic model. Interaction with kinetic site 1 was characterized by relatively fast attachment and slow detachment, whereas attachment to and detachment from kinetic site 2 was fast. Fast attachment and slow detachment of site 1 was attributed to soil calcium carbonate that has favorable attachment site for bacteria. The detachment rate was less than 0.01 of the attachment rate, indicating irreversible attachment of bacteria. Most of the cells were retained close to the soil column inlet, and the rate of deposition decreased with depth. Microbial reduction rate for the soil was 4.02-4.88 log m-1. High reduction rate of bacteria was also attributed to soil calcium carbonate that has favorable attachment site for bacteria.

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In order to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria on phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency, mycorrhizal dependence and grain yield and dry matter yield of maize under water deficit conditions, a field experiment was conducted as split-split plot arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments in this experiment were included as follows: irrigation (normal irrigation and water deficit stress based on evaporation from class A pan evaporation) combined different seed inoculations with AM and Pseudomonas fluorescens and treatment of chemical phosphate fertilizer (non- consumption of phosphate fertilizer, consumption of 50 percent of triple superphosphate fertilizer needed, and consumption of rock phosphate, based on the quantity of consumed phosphorus of triple superphosphate source). The results showed that effects of irrigation, seed inoculation with AM and Pseudomonas fluorescens biological phosphate fertilizer and chemical phosphate fertilizer were significant on yield and yield components, dry matter yield, relative agronomic efficiency and root colonization. Mild stress significantly reduced grain yield, relative agronomic efficiency and fertilizer agronomic efficiency compared to optimum irrigation. Results showed that grain and dry matter yield are highly correlated with root colonization under mild stress condition. Maximum mycorrhizal dependence was obtained in mild stress condition. Maximum relative agronomic efficiency, fertilizer agronomic efficiency, yield and yield components was related to seed inoculation with AM and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The use of triple superphosphate fertilizer were increased grain yield in comparison with rock phosphate along with inoculation of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. However, maximum root colonization and mycorrhizal dependence was achieved in non- consumption treatment of phosphate fertilizer.