Class
Article
College
College of Science
Department
Biology Department
Faculty Mentor
Amita Kaundal
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
As global temperatures have been steadily rising in the past few decades, soil salinity has been steadily increasing in many parts of the world as well. This increase in salinity has proven detrimental and especially challenging for many plant species. The soil directly in contact with the roots of plants is known as the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere hosts plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR plays a significant role in a plant's ability to deal with stressors such as drought, heavy metal contamination, and extreme cold temperatures. Native plants are known to show versatility to these stressors as well. One such native plant is Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush), indigenous to the Intermountain West region of North America. In this study, we aim to isolate halotolerant PGPR from the rhizosphere of snowbrush. Rhizosphere samples from snowbrush plants were taken from three elevations in Tony Grove, Utah. Soil from each elevation was resuspended in water at a 10:95 ratio and serially diluted four times at a 1:10 ratio. The last two dilutions were plated onto nutrient agar supplemented with six different concentrations of NaCl (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%) and grown at 370C and 280C. We had prolific growth in 2% NaCl concentrations with several dozen colonies in each (as many as one hundred and sixty) as well as a few dozen colonies in 4% NaCl (as many as thirty-one). We had only one colony grow at 6% NaCl and no growth past that concentration. Thirty-four unique colonies were isolated and purified across all plated samples. We selected twenty-four promising colonies, which were identified by 16s rRNA sequencing. The next step is to test these microbes on three plants, such as Arabidopsis, alfalfa, and maize, for their growth and development under salt stress. The long-term goal is to create a new biofertilizer to increase plant health in saline soils. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 9-10 a.m.Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/81298203941?pwd=WXZkRjhqdlZNTVlidXk3UnB1K2VtUT09
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Isolation of Halotolerant Bacteria From the Rhizosphere of Ceanothus velutinus May Lead to Contributions in Plant Health in Saline Conditions
Logan, UT
As global temperatures have been steadily rising in the past few decades, soil salinity has been steadily increasing in many parts of the world as well. This increase in salinity has proven detrimental and especially challenging for many plant species. The soil directly in contact with the roots of plants is known as the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere hosts plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR plays a significant role in a plant's ability to deal with stressors such as drought, heavy metal contamination, and extreme cold temperatures. Native plants are known to show versatility to these stressors as well. One such native plant is Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush), indigenous to the Intermountain West region of North America. In this study, we aim to isolate halotolerant PGPR from the rhizosphere of snowbrush. Rhizosphere samples from snowbrush plants were taken from three elevations in Tony Grove, Utah. Soil from each elevation was resuspended in water at a 10:95 ratio and serially diluted four times at a 1:10 ratio. The last two dilutions were plated onto nutrient agar supplemented with six different concentrations of NaCl (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%) and grown at 370C and 280C. We had prolific growth in 2% NaCl concentrations with several dozen colonies in each (as many as one hundred and sixty) as well as a few dozen colonies in 4% NaCl (as many as thirty-one). We had only one colony grow at 6% NaCl and no growth past that concentration. Thirty-four unique colonies were isolated and purified across all plated samples. We selected twenty-four promising colonies, which were identified by 16s rRNA sequencing. The next step is to test these microbes on three plants, such as Arabidopsis, alfalfa, and maize, for their growth and development under salt stress. The long-term goal is to create a new biofertilizer to increase plant health in saline soils. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 9-10 a.m.Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/81298203941?pwd=WXZkRjhqdlZNTVlidXk3UnB1K2VtUT09