Biopriming of maize seeds with plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from the earthworm Aporrectodea molleri: effect on seed germination and seedling growth.

Earthworms have become a potential source of multi-beneficial bacteria and effective bioinoculants. Seed biopriming is an efficient inoculation method to apply bacteria prior to sowing, which enhances the chances of bacterial candidates to colonize the rhizosphere and/or establish a liaison with the plant. In this study, we evaluated plant growth-promoting traits of bacterial strains isolated from the earthworm's Aporrectodea molleri chloragogenous tissue. In addition, we investigated their prospective use as biopriming agents to enhance Zea mays germination and seedling growth. Results were subjected to principal component analysis for potential correlations between the studied parameters. The bacterial strains displayed different in vitro plant growth-promoting characteristics and were efficient when applied in vivo as they significantly increased maize germination rate (26-78%), root elongation (67-84%), seedlings fresh weight and dry weight. Aeromonas encheleia TC22 was the most significant strain to influence germination due to its high ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, and along with Pseudomonas azotoformans TC1, they were the most proficient at enhancing seedling root elongation and biomass, which was significantly correlated with their in vitro plant growth-promoting traits. Our findings indicate that isolates TC22 and TC1 are potent bio-primers for maize seeds and should be tested further for their use as biopriming inoculants.

[Investigation and analysis of an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ksar Ouled Dabbab, Tataouine (Tunisia), 2012-2013]. / Investigation et analyse d'une épidémie de leishmaniose cutanée à Ksar Ouled Dabbab, Tataouine (Tunisie), 2012-2013.

UNLABELLED: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), due to Leishmania major, and chronic CL, due to L. tropica, are endemic in the governorate (administrative subdivision) of Tataouine (southeast Tunisia). This study aims to analyze epidemiologic, clinical, parasitologic, and entomologic data collected during the 2012-2013 epidemic in Ksar Ouled Dabbab (KOD). METHODS: The KOD health care center diagnosed 164 CL cases from July 2012 to March 2013, identifying 21 Leishmania isolates and local sandflies. RESULTS: The incidence rate of CL in KOD was around 27.5/1000 inhabitants. The age groups most strongly affected were children younger than 10 years (19.9%) and those aged 10-20 years (23.1%). The number of patients with multiple lesions (67.9%) and their location on limbs (71.3%) indicated ZCL. This hypothesis is supported by the high proportions of L. major (81%) and Phlebotomus papatasi found. CONCLUSION: The epidemiologic and clinical profiles of the cases and the predominance of L. major and P. papatasi confirm that the recent outbreak in KOD was related to ZCL. It probably followed recent environmental changes and transmission spread from adjacent neighboring foci.