Functional mechanism of plant growth retardation by Bacillus subtilis IJ-31 and its allelochemicals

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2012 Oct;22(10):1375-80. doi: 10.4014/jmb.1207.07031.

Abstract

We previously isolated a rhizobacterium (Bacillus subtilis IJ-31) and demonstrated that its associated allelochemicals could indicate plant growth retardation. However, little is known about how the growth of plants is regulated by B. subtilis IJ-31 and its allelochemicals. In this study, we investigated whether plant growth retardation in this relationship occurred through the inhibition of gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis. GA 3beta-hydroxylase activity was found to be inhibited by B. subtilis IJ-31 and hydrocinnamic acid (HCA), which is one of the allelochemicals produced by B. subtilis IJ-31. Additionally, thin layer chromatography (TLC) demonstrated that B. subtilis IJ-31 culture broth and HCA both inhibit GA 3beta-hydroxylase (MBP-GA4) activity. The retardation of plants by HCA was then confirmed in vivo and in vitro using a Ryegrass and Arabidopsis growth retardation assay. Furthermore, treatment with either B. subtilis IJ-31 culture extract or its allelochemicals resulted in significant down-regulation of XTR9 gene expression in Arabidopsis. Overall, we identified the functional mechanism of plant growth retardation by B. subtilis IJ-31 and its allelochemicals.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects*
  • Arabidopsis / enzymology
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development*
  • Bacillus subtilis / chemistry*
  • Capsicum / drug effects
  • Capsicum / enzymology
  • Capsicum / genetics
  • Capsicum / growth & development
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Assays
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genes, Plant
  • Gibberellins / biosynthesis
  • Glycosyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycosyltransferases / chemistry
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Lolium / drug effects
  • Lolium / enzymology
  • Lolium / genetics
  • Lolium / growth & development*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / biosynthesis
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics
  • Phenylpropionates / chemistry
  • Phenylpropionates / pharmacology
  • Pheromones / chemistry
  • Pheromones / pharmacology*
  • Plant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Gibberellins
  • Phenylpropionates
  • Pheromones
  • Plant Proteins
  • 3-phenylpropionic acid
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • gibberellin 3beta-hydroxylase
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • xyloglucan endotransglycosylase