CO-INOCULATION OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX) WITH ACTINOMYCETES AND BRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM ENHANCES PLANT GROWTH,NITROGENASE ACTIVITY AND PLANT NUTRITION

The aim of this study was to determine the potential of the endophytic actinomycetes that produce plant growth promoters used as co-inoculants with Bradyrhizobium japonicum to promote the growth of soybean. These endophytes exhibited the potential to enhance plant growth, nitrogenase activity of root nodules and plant nutrient uptake. Co-inoculum of B. japonicum with Nocardia alba conferred the maximum yield of root and shoot dry weight. All single-inoculated actinomycetes strains had the ability to enhance plant growth. Noc. alba and Nonomuraea rubra increased total plant dry weight up to 2.14-fold and 2.11-fold, respectively, when compared to the uninoculated controls. Co-inoculations of B. japonicum with each of Noc. alba, Non. Rubra, and Actinomadura glauciflava increased acetylene reduction activity up to 1.7 to 2.7-fold. For plant mineral composition, all of co-inoculation treatments significantly increased the nutrient levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) within a soybean plant.     

First report of leaf spot disease on oil palm caused by Pestalotiopsis theae in Thailand

A leaf spot on oil palm, caused by Pestalotiopsis theae, was found in a plantation of Elaeis guineensis for the first time in the world in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The fungus was isolated from lesions on leaves, and its pathogenicity was confirmed. Pathogenicity tests showed that P. theae could infect E. guineensis, which developed the same symptoms after inoculation as those observed naturally in the field. The fungus was identified based on morphological characteristics and confirmed using comparisons of DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1, ITS2 and 5.8S rDNA. This report is the first on oil palm leaf spot disease caused by P. theae.     

Inhibition of Vibrio spp. by 2‐Hydroxyethyl‐11‐hydroxyhexadec‐9‐enoate of Marine Cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. LT19

Seven marine cyanobacteria were isolated from two regions of the Gulf of Thailand and evaluated by the agar diffusion method for antibacterial activity. Inhibitory compound was purified from the crude methanol extract and its structure was elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, including IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as mass spectrometry. A novel antimicrobial compound produced by the marine cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. LT19 was identified to be a 2‐hydroxyethyl‐11‐hydroxyhexadec‐9‐enoate which has so far never been reported in microorganisms. Biological assays revealed that this novel compound exhibited antibacterial activities against the Gram‐negative, persistent shrimp pathogens, Vibrio harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus with minimal inhibitory concentration of 250–1000 and 350–1000 μg mL^?1 respectively.     

Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tectona grandis</Emphasis> Linn.f. plantations and their effects on growth of micropropagated plantlets

Regeneration of stands of valuable tropical hardwood tree species for sustainable harvest requires production of seedlings with high probabilities of survival. One way to enhance the vigor of plants for outplanting is pre-colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. We pursued the strategy that the most promising AM fungus candidates for inoculation would be those associated with the tree of interest in the field. AM fungus communities were assessed in five plantations of Tectona grandis Linn.f. A total of 18 AM fungal morphotypes were found, representing four families: Glomeraceae (49.6%), Acaulosporaceae (24.9%), Claroideoglomeraceae (20.8%), and Gigasporaceae (4.8%). AM fungus spore density was negatively correlated with soil organic carbon. Some of these AM fungi, plus Rhizophagus irregularis, were established in pot culture and in vitro with transformed carrot roots, and subsequently used to inoculate micropropagated plantlets of T. grandis. Tectona grandis plantlets inoculated in vitro were successfully colonized by all AM fungi studied. Plants inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae were taller than uninoculated plants. Tectona grandis plantlets inoculated with the AM fungus Claroideoglomus etunicatum PBT03 were taller than uninoculated controls in ex vitro experiments. This study provides early insight for the targeted use of the AM symbiosis in production of important tree species in future greenhouse studies and reforestation.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Macaranga denticulata Muell. Arg., and their effect on the host plant

A fallow enriching tree, Macaranga denticulata Muell. Arg., has been shown to increase rice yield in a rotational shifting cultivation system in northern Thailand through increased accumulation of mineral nutrients. As arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may play an important role in nutrient accumulation, AM fungi in the rhizosphere of M. denticulata and the effects of the indigenous soil inoculum on the host plant were investigated. The diversity and abundance of AM fungi were documented for the rhizosphere of M. denticulata in the field for two years. Based on morphology, 29 species of AM fungi were found in the rhizosphere of M. denticulata growing in farmers’ fields. Root colonization ranged from 63.5 to 81.5% in the first year and 68.7 to 79.9% in the second year of study. The highest spore density was observed at the end of the wet season. The effects of indigenous soil inoculum, and N and P fertilizers on the host plant were investigated in pots for four months. Inoculation with soil-containing AM fungi strongly increased plant growth and nutrient contents when P was limiting but N was applied. Application of N and P together strongly depressed root colonization and spore density of AM fungi, whereas applying them separately had much less effect. AM fungi may play an important role in nutrient accumulation in M. denticulata-rich fallow and thus in nutrient cycling that is beneficial to the maintenance of upland rice yield and sustainability of the rotational shifting cultivation system. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.