Nodulation competitiveness between contrasting phage phenotypes of pigeonpea rhizobial strains.

Competitiveness between (I) lysogenic vs. phage-indicator strains, (II) phage-resistant vs phage-sensitive strains, and (III) large plaque vs. small plaque developing strains was examined under laboratory and field conditions in order to study the involvement of these crucial phage sensitivity patterns in the competition for nodule occupancy of pigeonpea rhizobia. The phage-indicator strain (A039) exhibited higher competitiveness over the lysogenic strain (A025 Sm(r)); the phage sensitive strain (IHP-195) over the phage resistant strain (IHP 195 Sm(r)V(r)); and the large plaque developing strain (A059) over the small plaque developing strain (IHP195 Sm(r)) in association with pigeonpea cv. bahar both under laboratory and field conditions. Dual inoculation of A025 Sm(r) + A039 and A059 + IHP195 Sm(r) (mixed in equal proportion just before treatment) improved the nodule occupancy by inoculant strains against native rhizobia and resulted into higher plant dry weight and yield as compared to their application as single inoculum. The phage-resistant mutant IHP195 Sm(r)V(r) showed reduced competitiveness against native rhizobia, compared to its parental strain. The dual inoculation of parental strain and phage-resistant mutant gave the same result as the inoculation of parental strain alone.

Efeito de polifosfatos e de citrato sobre Lactococcus lactis e seu bacteriófago / Effect of polyphosphates and citrate on Lactococcus lactis and its bacteriophage

Os bacteriófagos podem causar a destruiçäo das bactérias láticas. Foram estudadas 35 formulaçöes de meios de cultura para Lactococcus com a capacidade de reduzir a infecçäo pelos bacteriófagos. Diferentes concentraçöes de polifosfatos ou misturas de polifosfatos e citrato, ambas associadas ou näo a fatores de crescimento bacteriano, foram testadas. Os parâmetros utilizados para comparaçäo entre os meios foram: capacidade tamponante, crescimento de L. lacts subsp. lactis ITAL 353 e a capacidade de inibir a multiplicaçäo do bacteriófago virulento 025. O leite desnatado a 12% foi usado como controle. Verificou-se que todos os meios possuíam boa capacidade tamponante. As concentraçöes acima de 6% de polifosfatos inibiram o crescimento bacteriano, exceto onde estavam presentes de 1% a 1,5% de extrato de levedura. Quatro meios contendo 5% de polifosfatos e um meio contendo também 5% de polifosfatos e 0,4% de citrato foram considerados adequados para inbir a multiplicaçäo de bacteriófagos e promover bom crescimento bacteriano

Production of a bacteriophage, a phage tail-like bacteriocin and an antibiotic by Bacillus azotofixans

Twenty-two nitrogen-fixing Bacillus azotofixans strains shown to produce an inhibition zone against themselves in plate assays. The B. azotofixans type strain P3L-5, chosen for further studies, produced inhibition zones against various Bacillus strains and other bacterial genera. This antibacterial substance was also produced in liquid medium and its production was enhanced in semisolid medium (0.4% agar) after 3 to 5 days of incubation. The substance was suggested to be an antibiotic and its preliminary characterization showed resistance to heat (100§ C, 15 minutes), to trypsin, pronase, deoxyribonuclease I, ribonuclease A, phospoholipase C, ethanol, acetone, and ether, and sensitivity to strong alkali treatment. Its molecular weight was estimated to be between 3500 to 6000. After induction of B. azotofixans P3L-5 with mitomycin C or ultraviolet light, two types of particles were detected in the lysate: one similar to a phage tail and the other, less frequent, similar to a complete bacteriophage. Lysates containing these particles showed a killing effect in some but not all B. azotofixans strains, but neither the other Bacillus species nor Micrococcus were inhibited by these lysates