Letters in Applied Microbiology (2009) 48, 493-499

P. Pereira, A. Nesci and M. Etcheverry (2009)
Impact of two bacterial biocontrol agents on bacterial
and fungal culturable groups associated with the roots of field-grown maize
Letters in Applied Microbiology 48 (4), 493-499
Abstract: To assess the impact of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Microbacterium oleivorans on bacterial and fungal groups associated to the roots of field-grown maize.
Methods and Results: Identification and count of bacterial and fungal culturable populations associated to the roots of maize seedlings, changes in culturable community structure according to the richness and diversity indexes concept and shifts in microbial activity through analysis of cellulolytic, ammonification and nitrification potentials were determined, in relation to kernel treatment with biological control agents. Following the treatment of maize kernels with B. amyloliquefaciens at 10⁷ CFU ml⁻¹, an increase in bacterial diversity was observed at the rhizoplane of resultant seedlings. Bacterial richness was significantly increased at the root inner tissues of seedlings treated with Mic. oleovorans. Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma were the main fungal genera isolated and there population sizes were unequally affected by the addition of biocontrol agents.
Conclusions: Numbers and types of isolated bacteria and fungi changed in response to the addition of biocontrol agents, while microbial activity remained unchanged with respect to control.
Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides an insight of the effects of proven biocontrol agents on micro-organisms naturally associated to the target crop.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Miriam G. Etcheverry

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (antagonist)
Microbacterium oleivorans (antagonist)