Isolation, identification and characterization of Paenibacillus polymyxa CR1 with potentials for biopesticide, biofertilization, biomass degradation and biofuel production. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weselowski, Brian; Nathoo, Naeem; Eastman, Alexander; MacDonald, Jacqueline; Yuan, Ze-Chun
• Is Part Of: BMC microbiology. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Paenibacillus polymyxa -- plant growth promotion -- PGPR -- antagonism -- biocontrol -- biopesticide -- biological nitrogen fixation -- diazotroph -- biofertilizer -- biomass degradation; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0860-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2180

Abstract

Abstract Background Paenibacillus polymyxa is a plant-growth promoting rhizobacterium that could be exploited as an environmentally friendlier alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Various strains have been isolated that can benefit agriculture through antimicrobial activity, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, plant hormone production, or lignocellulose degradation. However, no single strain has yet been identified in which all of these advantageous traits have been confirmed. Results P. polymyxa CR1 was isolated from degrading corn roots from southern Ontario, Canada. It was shown to possess in vitro antagonistic activities against the common plant pathogensPhytophthora sojae P6497 (oomycete), Rhizoctonia solani 1809 (basidiomycete fungus), Cylindrocarpon destructans 2062 (ascomycete fungus), Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 (bacterium), andXanthomonas campestris 93-1 (bacterium), as well asBacillus cereus (bacterium), an agent of food-borne illness.P. polymyxa CR1 enhanced growth of maize, potato, cucumber, Arabidopsis, and tomato plants; utilized atmospheric nitrogen and insoluble phosphorus; produced the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); and degraded and utilized the major components of lignocellulose (lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose). Conclusions P. polymyxa CR1 has multiple beneficial traits that are relevant to sustainable agriculture and the bio-economy. This strain could be developed for field application in order to control pathogens, promote plant growth, and degrade crop residues after harvest.