Mutualistic interaction of native Serratia marcescens UENF-22GI with Trichoderma longibrachiatum UENF-F476 boosting seedling growth of tomato and papaya

• Published in: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 37; no. 12; p. 211
• Main Authors: de Andrade Reis, Régis Josué, Alves, Alice Ferreira, dos Santos, Pedro Henrique Dias, Aguiar, Kamilla Pereira, da Rocha, Letícia Oliveira, da Silveira, Silvaldo Felipe, Canellas, Luciano Pasqualoto, Olivares, Fabio Lopes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-12-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied Microbiology; Bacteria; Biochemistry; Biofilms; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Carica - growth & development; Carica - microbiology; Cell interactions; Composting; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Farming systems; Fitness; Fungi; Hyphae; Hyphae - physiology; Hypocreales - physiology; Inoculation; Life Sciences; Lycopersicon esculentum - growth & development; Lycopersicon esculentum - microbiology; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Original Article; Papayas; Phosphorus; Plant growth; Probiotics; Seedlings; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - microbiology; Serratia marcescens; Serratia marcescens - physiology; Soil Microbiology; Solubilization; Substrates; Survival; Sustainable agriculture; Tomatoes; Trichoderma longibrachiatum; Vermicomposting; Worms; Zinc compounds; Microbial interaction; Beneficial bacteria; Substrate biofortification; Biological input; Microbial technology
• ISSN: 0959-3993; 1573-0972
• DOI: 10.1007/s11274-021-03179-z

A plethora of bacteria–fungal interactions occur on the extended fungal hyphae network in soil. The mycosphere of saprophytic fungi can serve as a bacterial niche boosting their survival, dispersion, and activity. Such ecological concepts can be converted to bioproducts for sustainable agriculture. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that the well-characterised beneficial bacterium
Serratia marcescens
UENF-22GI can enhance plant growth-promoting properties when combined with
Trichoderma longibrachiatum
UENF-F476. The cultural and cell interactions demonstrated
S. marcescens and T. longibrachiatum
mutual compatibility. Bacteria cells were able to attach, forming aggregates to biofilms and migrating through the fungal hyphae network. Long-distance bacterial migration through growing hyphae was confirmed using a two-compartment Petri dishes assay. Fungal inoculation increased the bacteria survival rates into the vermicompost substrate over the experimental time. Also, in vitro indolic compound, phosphorus, and zinc solubilisation bacteria activities increased in the presence of the fungus. In line with the ecophysiological bacteria fitness, the bacterium–fungal combination boosted tomato and papaya plantlet growth when applied into the plant substrate under nursery conditions. Mutualistic interaction between mycosphere-colonizing bacterium
S. marcescens
UENF-22GI and the saprotrophic fungi
T. longibrachiatum
UENF-F467 increased the ecological fitness of the bacteria alongside with beneficial potential for plant growth. A proper combination and delivery of mutual compatible beneficial bacteria–fungal represent an open avenue for microbial-based products for the biological enrichment of plant substrates in agricultural systems.
Graphical abstract