Colonization of phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas sp. strain P34-L in the wheat rhizosphere and its effects on wheat growth and the expression of phosphate transporter gene TaPT4 in wheat

The ability to colonize the rhizosphere is an important basics requirement for field application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains. There are complex signal exchanges and mutual recognition between microbes and plants. In this study, phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas sp. P34, a PGPR strain with affinity to wheat, was isolated from the wheat rhizosphere by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The plasmid pTR102 harboring the luciferase luxAB gene was transferred into P34 to create P34-L. The labeled strain was used to track the temporal and spatial characteristics of colonization in wheat rhizosphere and its effects on wheat development. The transcript level of phosphate transporter gene TaPT4, a phosphorus deficiency indicator gene, in wheat roots was monitored by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. The experimental results indicated that there was a high density of stain P34-L within the top 8-cm depth of the wheat rhizosphere on day 36 of wheat growth. The strain could survive in the wheat rhizosphere for a long time, and colonize new spaces in wheat rhizosphere following the extension of wheat roots. Compared with uninoculated wheat plants, those inoculated with P34-L showed significantly increased phosphorus accumulation in leaves, seedling fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, total root length, and number of root tips, forks, crossings, which showed a great value of application of the strain on wheat production by promoting the root growth and dry matter accumulation. Strain P34-L down-regulated the transcript level of TaPT4 in wheat roots, which means a well phosphorus supplementation environment was established by P34-L.\n\nImportanceMany PGPR strains often failed to achieve the desired effects when applied in the field. One major reason for the failure is lack of a special affinity between a certain strain and the target host plant, so those strains have low competitive ability with the indigenous microorganism, and unable to survive constantly in rhizosphere. In this work, a new technique to isolate wheat-specific phosphate-solubilizing PGPR strain by WGA was established. The isolate P34 was confirmed can colonize the wheat rhizosphere, and have significantly ability in promoting phosphorus absorption and wheat growth by luminescence labeling techniques. Furthermore, the phosphate-solubilizing ability of this affinity PGPR strain was verified in gene level by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. These results lay a firm foundation for further research on the relationships between PGPR and their host plants. Meanwhile, this work supplied a potential ideal biofertilizer producing strain for sustainable agriculture.