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Nitrogen supply influences plant growth and transcriptional responses induced by Enterobacter radicincitans in Solanum lycopersicum

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Abstract

Aim

The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) to reduce requirements for mineral nitrogen fertilization in sustainable agriculture is an important issue. We studied how reduced nitrogen fertilization affects the growth-promoting capacity of Enterobacter radicincitans, the bacteria’s root colonization behavior, and the regulation of nitrogen, phosphate and hormone marker genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

Method

Tomato seeds inoculated with 107 cfu mL−1 E. radicincitans or 0.05 M NaCl, were grown under two distinct nitrogen fertilization regimes.

Results

When treated with E. radicincitans, plant root or shoot dry weight increased by 180 %, or 150 % in high nitrogen (HN) conditions, but increased only by 120 %, or 140 % in low nitrogen (LN) conditions. HN plants were colonized by a higher number of total bacteria, including E. radicincitans, than LN plants. We found that E. radicincitans-treated plants expressed higher levels of a pathogen defense-related marker gene in LN conditions than in HN conditions. Transcription of the oxylipin biosynthesis marker genes was suppressed in E. radicincitans-treated plants under both fertilization regimes.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that drastic reduction in nitrogen fertilization results in modulating plant hormone signaling, thus inhibiting the optimal effect of E. radicincitans on tomato.

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Acknowledgments

We thank B. Wernitz and J. Gräwert for technical assistance and the Leibniz Institute for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Großbeeren eV. for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany

    Beatrice Berger, Anita K. Brock & Silke Ruppel

  2. Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany

    Beatrice Berger

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  1. Beatrice Berger
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  2. Anita K. Brock
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  3. Silke Ruppel
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Correspondence to Beatrice Berger.

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Responsible Editor: Jesús Mercado-Blanco.

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Berger, B., Brock, A.K. & Ruppel, S. Nitrogen supply influences plant growth and transcriptional responses induced by Enterobacter radicincitans in Solanum lycopersicum . Plant Soil 370, 641–652 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1633-0

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