Article
Microbiology
Regina S. Redman, Yong Ok Kim, Sang Cho, Malia Mercer, Melissa Rienstra, Ryan Manglona, Taylor Biaggi, Xin-Gen Zhou, Martin Chilvers, Zachery Gray, Russell J. Rodriguez
Summary: This study demonstrates that fungal endophytes from plants in stressful habitats can enhance climate resilience in crops. Fungal endophytes isolated from weedy rice and grasses in high salt, drought, and arid habitats conferred stress tolerance to plants reflective of their native environments. The development of these fungal endophytes as commercial tools led to increased crop yields under high stress conditions, showcasing their potential in enhancing agricultural sustainability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rotondwa P. Gunununu, Mustapha Mohammed, Sanjay K. Jaiswal, Felix D. Dakora
Summary: This study investigated the phylogenetic positions of rhizobial microsymbionts of common bean from Malkerns in Eswatini, revealing various ERI-PCR types. The results showed that most of the tested isolates were effective in nitrogen fixation and positively influenced the growth of common bean.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Elizabeth Arnold
Summary: An intriguing new study uses newly generated metagenomes to study the evolution of fungi, specifically focusing on lichens, which are one of the most species-rich and fascinating manifestations of symbiosis.
Article
Microbiology
A. Mahdhi, M. Mars, M. Rejili
Summary: A total of 84 Pisum sativum legume nodulating bacteria (LNB) were isolated from southern Tunisia, belonging to the genera Rhizobium and Ensifer. All Rhizobium strains nodulating pea belonged to the symbiovar viciae, while the Ensifer strains were associated with a previously undescribed symbiovar meliloti. Among the strains tested, R. leguminosarum PsZA23, R. leguminosarum PsGBL42, and E. medicae PsTA22a showed the most effective symbiosis with the plant host.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Wenhui Zeng, Bingrong Liu, Wenjing Wu, Shijun Zhang, Yong Chen, Zhiqiang Li
Summary: The study investigated the dynamic adjustment of the digestive system of Coptotermes formosanus to unfavorable survival environments via non-lethal toxic feeding. The results showed that the dominant role of microbial lignocellulases in cellulose degradation and the stability of the core symbiotic community were not affected, while rare bacterial lineages enriched by low toxic feeding might contribute to toxic stress tolerance. Overall, the data suggested that the digestive adaptation of C. formosanus to physiotoxic feeding is closely related to the triple collaboration of termites-flagellates-bacteria.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohamed Hnini, Imane El Attar, Kaoutar Taha, Jamal Aurag
Summary: In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, stress tolerance, phytoben-eficial traits, and symbiotic characteristics of rhizobial strains isolated from root nodules of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana. The majority of the strains belong to the genus Ensifer and showed high similarity with Ensifer sp. USDA 257 and Sinorhizobium BJ1. Most strains belong to symbiovar vachelliae and exhibited plant growth-promoting activities. In vitro tests demonstrated the production of IAA and solubilization of inorganic phosphate, as well as tolerance to high salt and PEG6000 concentrations. Greenhouse inoculation tests showed high infectivity and efficiency of most rhizobial strains, with LMR688, LMR692, and LMR687 exhibiting the highest relative symbiotic efficiency values.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Ravinder K. K. Goyal, Jemaneh Z. Z. Habtewold
Summary: Plants face unfavorable conditions and microbial pathogens that can cause damage to their growth and survival. Maintaining a healthy and stress-free host plant is crucial for a successful symbiotic relationship with rhizobia. The rhizobia not only assist with nitrogen fixation but also enhance the plant's defense mechanisms against stress and provide disease protection.
Article
Virology
Zied Bouslama, Habib Kharmachi, Nourhene Basdouri, Jihen Ben Salem, Samia Ben Maiez, Mariem Handous, Mohamed Saadi, Abdeljalil Ghram, Imed Turki
Summary: The study analyzed the genetic characteristics of rabies virus transmitted through wild canidae in Tunisia, showing that the virus is mainly spread by canids rather than foxes. The genetic characteristics of the virus isolates were not as distinct as expected from a wild reservoir existing.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Houda Ilahi, Jihed Hsouna, Walid Ellouze, Takwa Gritli, Saif-allah Chihaoui, Fathi Barhoumi, Mohamed Najib Elfeddy, Sarra Bachkouel, Lahcen Ouahmane, James T. Tambong, Bacem Mnasri
Summary: The study identified a diverse population of native rhizobia in nodulated Pisum sativum plants in Tunisia, with distinct ribotypes and new species identified through molecular analysis. Heterogeneity within symbiotic genes was observed, indicating variability within symbiovar. This suggests a more diverse rhizobium community in Tunisia than previously reported.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Brito-Santana, Julian J. Duque-Pedraza, Lydia M. Bernabeu-Roda, Cristina Carvia-Hermoso, Virginia Cuellar, Francisco Fuentes-Romero, Sebastian Acosta-Jurado, Jose-Maria Vinardell, Maria J. Soto
Summary: Bacterial surface motility, regulated by genes such as DnaJ, plays a crucial role in host colonization and establishment of symbiosis with legumes. The lack of DnaJ results in impaired surface translocation and hindered establishment of efficient symbiosis in Sinorhizobium meliloti. This study highlights the importance of DnaJ in the free-living and symbiotic lifestyles of S. meliloti.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenjuan Kang, Xiaolong Li, Xiaoyan Zhang, Shangli Shi
Summary: This study compared the transcriptomic profiles of two alfalfa cultivars inoculated with the same rhizobium strain LL2 and found that the G9 cultivar showed better nodule formation, nitrogen fixation, and growth characteristics than the G3 cultivar. Differential expression analysis revealed distinct gene expression patterns between G9 and G3, with a larger number of differentially expressed genes in G9. These genes are primarily involved in encoding nodule-specific peptides, nodulin, and leghemoglobin. Furthermore, hub gene interaction network analysis identified the important roles of NCRs, late nodulin, and genes related to plant immunity in regulating other genes.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Congcong Wu, Dan Tang, Jin Dai, Xingyuan Tang, Yuting Bao, Jiali Ning, Qing Zhen, Hui Song, Raymond J. St. Leger, Weiguo Fang
Summary: The plant symbiotic fungus Metarhizium robertsii can degrade and reduce methylmercury and divalent mercury, thereby decreasing mercury accumulation in plants and improving their growth in contaminated soils. This fungus achieves this through the action of methylmercury demethylase and mercury ion reductase. The mechanisms underlying mercury tolerance in fungi involve horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. Heterologous expression of methylmercury demethylase enables fungi lacking this gene to also demethylate methylmercury.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Regina S. Redman, Joe A. Anderson, Taylor M. Biaggi, Katie E. L. Malmberg, Melissa N. Rienstra, Jamie L. Weaver, Rusty J. Rodriguez
Summary: This study shows that plants can grow across complex habitat gradients by modulating symbiotic associations with Class 2 fungal endophytes. Different soil salinity levels alter the associations between plants and endophytes. Different plant species have different dominant endophyte associations depending on the environmental stress. Modulation of endophyte abundance affects the plants' ability to tolerate stress.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Meryem Belfquih, Ilham Sakrouhi, Hassan Ait-Benhassou, Emeric Dubois, Dany Severac, Abdelkarim Filali-Maltouf, Antoine Le Quere
Summary: The study on Ensifer aridi reveals accumulation of compatible solute and induction of other metabolic pathways under high osmotic stress, supporting the role of stress genes in symbiosis development and functioning. Despite activation of general stress response, the gene rpoE2 was found not essential for stress tolerance and symbiosis development, suggesting alternative regulatory mechanisms in E. aridi.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jihene Lachheb, Adam Jbenyeni, Jihene Nsiri, Imen Larbi, Faten Ammouna, Imen El Behi, Abdeljelil Ghram
Summary: The study isolated and characterized IBDV isolates circulating in Tunisia, with the analysis revealing unique features in some of the samples. Phylogenetic analyses further showed close relation to very virulent Algerian IBDV strains.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shin-ichiro Agake, Fernanda Plucani do Amaral, Tetsuya Yamada, Hitoshi Sekimoto, Gary Stacey, Tadashi Yokoyama, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: Spores of Bacillus spp., including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), can exert different growth-promoting effects compared to vegetative cells. In this study, viable spores of B. pumilus TUAT1 showed stronger growth-promoting effects on Setaria compared to vegetative cells. Additionally, dead spores had a positive impact on root differentiation, leading to increased biomass and nitrogen uptake.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shimpei Uraguchi, Yuka Ohshiro, Yuto Otsuka, Emiko Wada, Fumii Naruse, Kakeru Sugaya, Kenichiro Nagai, Arunee Wongkaew, Ryosuke Nakamura, Yasukazu Takanezawa, Stephan Clemens, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Masako Kiyono
Summary: An organomercurial phenylmercury activates the enzyme AtPCS1 to induce metal-chelating peptides phytochelatins for detoxification of phenylmercury in Arabidopsis. The AtPCS1-mediated synthesis of PCs, complex formation, and vacuolar sequestration by AtABCC1 and AtABCC2 are similarly functional for detoxifying both PheHg and Hg(II) in root surficial cell types.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Richard Ansong Omari, Kun Yuan, Khoa Trinh Anh, Moritz Reckling, Mosab Halwani, Dilfuza Egamberdieva, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Sonoko D. Bellingrath-Kimura
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of locally isolated Bradyrhizobium strains to enhance soybean productivity in different growing conditions of Northeast Germany. The results showed that inoculation with indigenous isolates significantly improved nodulation and yield attributes of soybean, and the strains need to be matched with specific cultivars for optimal symbiotic performance.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Sylwia Lewandowska, Krzysztof Marczewski, Marcin Kozak, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Magdalena Labowska, Jerzy Detyna, Izabela Michalak
Summary: This study investigates the response of Japanese and Polish soybean varieties to algal extract, specifically looking at yield and other agronomic traits. The research found that foliar spraying with Cladophora glomerata extract significantly improved yield parameters of the soybeans. The Polish variety Erica performed better under Polish environmental conditions compared to the Japanese variety Enrei. This study suggests that foliar spray of algal extracts could be a promising option for increasing soybean yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Takehiro Ito, Taisuke Kitaiwa, Kosuke Nishizono, Minori Umahashi, Shunsuke Miyaji, Shin-Ichiro Agake, Kana Kuwahara, Tadashi Yokoyama, Shinya Fushinobu, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Ryosuke Sugiyama, Muneo Sato, Jun Inaba, Masami Yokota Hirai, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: The study reveals the important roles of GGP1 and possibly GGP3 in the degradation of GSH and primary and secondary sulfur metabolism. The GGP-mediated pathway may be more efficient in the degradation of GSH compared to the GGCT-mediated pathway.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hinako Sugiura, Shunsuke Miyaji, Saki Yamamoto, Michiko Yasuda, Jean Louise Cocson Damo, Maria Daniela Artigas Ramirez, Shin-Ichiro Agake, Takehiro Kamiya, Toru Fujiwara, Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura, Haruo Tanaka, Soh Sugihara, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: Sulfur fertilization increases the secretion of organic acids in soybean roots, improving phosphorus acquisition. Sulfur nutrition induces the expression of the GmMATE13 gene and promotes the excretion of citric acid from soybean roots.
SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Shin-ichiro Agake, Yoshinari Ohwaki, Katsuhiro Kojima, Emon Yoshikawa, Maria Daniela Artigas Ramirez, Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura, Tetsuya Yamada, Taiichiro Ookawa, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Tadashi Yokoyama
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of Bacillus pumilus strain TUAT1, a plant growth-promoting bacterium, on rice growth and yield. The results showed that the application of this strain significantly improved rice growth, nitrogen uptake, yield, and lodging resistance.
Review
Plant Sciences
Takehiro Ito, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: GSH is an essential thiol for plants, but its degradation has not been fully elucidated, limiting our understanding of plant life. Recent studies have shown that GSH is degraded by cytosolic enzymes or after conjugation with other molecules. This highlights the need to reassess previous assumptions and provide a novel overview of the plant GSH degradation pathway. This review aims to summarize current understanding of GSH/glutathione conjugate degradation and lay a foundation for future studies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Saki Yamamoto, Shin Okazaki, Nakei D. Monica, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Haruo Tanaka, Soh Sugihara
Summary: In strongly weathered soil, the combination of Rhizobium inoculation and 50SSP (single superphosphate) fertilization effectively improves phosphorus use efficiency in pigeon peas.
Article
Microbiology
Md Firoz Mortuza, Salem Djedidi, Takehiro Ito, Shin-ichiro Agake, Hitoshi Sekimoto, Tadashi Yokoyama, Shin Okazaki, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: Genetic and physiological characterization of bacteria derived from leguminous plant nodules can provide insights into their potential as biofertilizers and contribute to agricultural and environmental management.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Daniela Artigas Ramirez, Shin-ichiro Agake, Masumi Maeda, Katsuhiro Kojima, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Tadashi Yokoyama
Summary: This study isolated and characterized spore-forming microorganisms (SFM) from rice roots, which showed significant short-term effects on nursery growth. The biofertilizer based on SFM improved the early growth of rice and enhanced its lodging resistances, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
Article
Microbiology
Jean Louise Cocson Damo, Takashi Shimizu, Hinako Sugiura, Saki Yamamoto, Shin-ichiro Agake, Julieta Anarna, Haruo Tanaka, Soh Sugihara, Shin Okazaki, Tadashi Yokoyama, Michiko Yasuda, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: This study aimed to determine the effect of sulfur (S) application on a root-associated microbial community. The results showed that S application significantly increased the secretion of organic acids from soybean roots, leading to changes in the microbial community structure. Several plant growth-promoting bacteria were found in the rhizosphere, which can be harnessed for crop productivity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Li-Er Xiao, Tetsuya Yamada, Masumi Maeda, Shin-Ichiro Agake, Ngoc Phuong Ngo, Motoki Kanekatsu, Yoshihito Shinozaki, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Tadashi Yokoyama
Summary: In this study, it was confirmed that inoculation of rice seedlings with spores of Bacillus pumilus TUAT1 promotes seedling emergence and subsequent growth at 15°C. Nitric oxide (NO) was found to play a role in these effects, as increased NO accumulation was detected in seed embryos 3 h after inoculation. Transcriptome analysis revealed the involvement of immune responses and cytochrome respiratory pathways, as well as accelerated transcription of genes related to cold tolerance.
SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryosuke Sugiyama, Rui Li, Ayuko Kuwahara, Ryo Nakabayashi, Naoyuki Sotta, Tetsuya Mori, Takehiro Ito, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Toru Fujiwara, Kazuki Saito, Ryohei Thomas Nakano, Pawel Bednarek, Masami Yokota Hirai
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jean Louise Cocson Damo, Maria Daniela Artigas Ramirez, Shin-ichiro Agake, Mannix Pedro, Marilyn Brown, Hitoshi Sekimoto, Tadashi Yokoyama, Soh Sugihara, Shin Okazaki, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: This study develops microbial inoculants using inorganic phosphate solubilizing bacteria (iPSB) in paddy field soils, which is important for agriculture. The isolation of iPSB is influenced by different fertilizer management and soil types. Most of the isolates belong to ss-Proteobacteria. Furthermore, the genera Pleomorphomonas, Rhodanobacter, and Trinickia are identified as iPSB for the first time in this study.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
