African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5230

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of nitrogen supply on rhizobacterial propagation and soil enzyme activity in pot soil cultivated with Phytophthora infestans-infected potato plants

Xuehui Jin
  • Xuehui Jin
  • Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Yang Yang
  • Yang Yang
  • Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Feng Jiao
  • Feng Jiao
  • Crop Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Yan Zhou
  • Yan Zhou
  • Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Yu Gao
  • Yu Gao
  • 1. Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China; 3. Daqing Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163712, China.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Dan Wang
  • Dan Wang
  • Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Chunying Xu
  • Chunying Xu
  • Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Ruichang Zhai*
  • Ruichang Zhai*
  • Crop Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 163319, China
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 31 October 2014
  •  Accepted: 02 February 2015
  •  Published: 18 February 2015

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that providing potato plants with an optimum nitrogen supply (in the form of urea; 135 kg hm-2) produces high crop yields and increased resistance to late blight. However, the mechanisms underlying these responses have not been well characterized. In this study, we examined the effects of various levels of nitrogen fertilization (four levels: N1, 45 kg hm-2, N2: 90 kg hm-2, N3: 135 kg hm-2 and N4: 180 kg hm-2) on soil bacterial growth, community diversity and soil enzyme activity. We found that application of the optimum amount of nitrogen promoted maximum levels of bacterial growth and community diversity development compared with the other treatments. In addition, the highest activities were detected for soil enzymes such as urease, invertase and acid phosphatase (but not catalase) under N3 conditions but not under N1, N2 or N4 conditions. These results suggest that proper nitrogen application provides soil microbes with optimum conditions for development. Thus, the optimum growth of rhizobacteria conferred by N3 treatment appears to be responsible for achieving the highest yields and strongest pathogen resistance in potato plants exposed to Phytophthora infestans.

Key words: Late blight, potato plant, rhizobacteria, soil enzyme, urea fertilizer.

Abbreviation

S, Seedling stage; T1, tuber formation stage; T2, tuber expansion stage; T3, starch accumulation stage; N1, nitrogen supply level 1 (45 kg hm-2); N2, nitrogen supply level 2 (90 kg hm-2); N3, nitrogen supply level 3 (135 kg hm-2); N4, nitrogen supply level 4 (180 kg hm-2); DGGE, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; PGPR, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Back to Vol. 9 No. 7
Back to articles
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
CONFERENCES