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Techniques for Manipulating the Bacterial Endophyte Bacillus mojavensis

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Environmental Microbiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Biotechnology ((MIBT,volume 16))

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Abstract

Bacterial endophytes actively colonize plant tissues and establish long-term associations, actually lifelong natural associations. The endophyte presumably benefits from inhabiting the plant interior because it is a protected niche in which there is relatively little competition from other microorganisms for a reliable source of nutrition. Thus, an endophyte is a microbe that lives in association with plants, forming a symptomless biotrophic association ( Fig. 1 ). However, not all endophytes are exclusively intercellular, as some form intracellular associations as well, e.g., inside phloem and/or xylem tissues. Endophytes may colonize plants either exclusively below ground or above ground or both. Endophytic bacteria are distinguished from transient visitors, usually dormant or latent bacterial infections, which form associations as happenstances that will not survive long. The term bacterial endophytes, as used here, encompasses the broader use of the narrowly defined term of Kado (1) to include that of Quispen (2), which defines bacterial endophytes as those intercellular bacteria that impart an ecological benefit to the plant without doing substantive harm to the plant. While this definition is restrictive, it conveys the concepts useful in defining fungal endophytes (3), and will serve as the primary focus for readers of this review as that of using endophytes as biocontrol agents. Inherent in the definition of endophytic bacteria is the concept of a symptomless, nondisease-producing infection that results in a series of interactions that range from no effects on the hosts (neutralism), to beneficial to the hosts and bacteria (mutualism), or to benefiting only one member (commensalism). We base these interactions on the terminology used for fungal endophytes and their quantitative and qualitative relationships with grasses (3). However, the specific interactions that would apply to B. mojavensis specifically, and other bacterial endophytes in general, have not yet been established.

Endophytic habit of Bacillus mojavensis in corn roots. A, Light micrograph (40X) showing a cross-section of root cells showing the distribution of bacteria both within the intercellular spaces of the cortex, c, and the steel, s. B, Light micrograph (100X) of corn plant showing the distribution of aniline blue stained bacterial cells of B. mojavensis within the intercellular spaces of root tissue (arrows), c, cell.

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  1. Russell Research Center, Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research Unit, ARS, USDA, Athens, GA

    Charles W. Bacon & Dorothy M. Hinton

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  1. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI)-CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina

    John F. T. Spencer  & Alicia L. Ragout de Spencer  & 

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Bacon, C.W., Hinton, D.M. (2004). Techniques for Manipulating the Bacterial Endophyte Bacillus mojavensis . In: Walker, J.M., Spencer, J.F.T., Ragout de Spencer, A.L. (eds) Environmental Microbiology. Methods in Biotechnology, vol 16. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-765-3:359

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-765-3:359

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-116-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-765-9

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