Phyllosphere of Cotton as a Habitat for Diazotrophic Microorganisms

Murty, MG (1984) Phyllosphere of Cotton as a Habitat for Diazotrophic Microorganisms. In: Applied and environmental microbiology, 48 (4). pp. 713-718.

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Abstract

Positive nitrogenase activities ranging from 0.18 to 0.78 nmol of C2H4 cm−2 h−1 were detected on the leaf surfaces of different varieties of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. and G. herbaceum L.) plants. Beijerinckia sp. was observed to be the predominant nitrogen-fixing microorganism in the phyllosphere of these varieties. A higher level of phyllosphere nitrogen-fixing activity was recorded in the variety Varalaxmi despite a low C/N ratio in the leaf leachates. Leaf surfaces of the above variety possessed the largest number of hairy outgrowths (trichomes) which entrapped a majority of microbes. Immersion of plant roots in nutrient medium containing 32Pi led to the accumulation of label in the trichome-borne microorganisms, thereby indicating a possible transfer of nutrients from leaf to microbes via trichomes. Extrapolation of acetylene reduction values suggested that 1.6 to 3.2 kg of N ha−1 might be contributed by diazotrophs in the phyllosphere of the variety Varalaxmi during the entire growth period.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Applied and environmental microbiology
Publisher:	American Society for Microbiology
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to American Society for Microbiolog.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Microbiology & Cell Biology
Date Deposited:	08 Feb 2010 11:13
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:33
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/20634

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