Tropentag, October 7 - 9, 2008 in Hohenheim "Competition for Resources in a Changing World: New Drive for Rural Development"

Hydrogen Cyanide Production Ability by Pseudomonas fluorescence Bacteria and their Inhibition Potential on Weed Germination

¹Ferdowsi University, Department of Agronomy, Iran
²Tehran University, Agronomy, Iran

Abstract

This research was undertaken to isolate and purificate indigenous Pseudomonas spp., to evaluate its ability in hydrogen cyanide synthesis and also to evaluate the potential of super-strains on seedling growth inhibition of weeds. According to this, the research was carried out in laboratory tests. 136 strains (obtained from rhizosphere soil of 62 weed species) and 27 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescence were sub-cultured, purified and refreshed. Then these strains were evaluated for the capability in cyanide synthesis and at last 4 super-strains of cyanogenic Pseudomonas were selected and used in further experiments. The effects of these strains on stem length, root length and stem length /root length rate in rye, wild barley, and wheat were evaluated in three different in vitro tests examining the effects of gas and liquid metabolites produced by bacteria.
The results showed that the abundance and probability of the bacteria isolation was low (about 3.6 %). About 37 % of Pseudomonas were capable of HCN production and this capacity was different among the strains. Gas metabolites reduced more than 90 % of root and shoot growth in weeds. These gas metabolites had larger inhibitory effects than other metabolites on plants. However, these influences were different in every bacteria treatment. Also wheat had less growth reduction if compared to weeds, indicating that the bacteria are probably plant specific.
In conclusion, the results proved that cyanogenic P. fluorescence had the potential of biological weed control. However, further studies on its application under natural conditions like greenhouse and field conditions, seem to be necessary.

Keywords: Biological weed control, growth inhibition, hydrogen cyanide, Pseudomonas spp., weeds

Contact Address: Shirin Heydari, Ferdowsi University, Department of Agronomy, P.O. Box 91775-1163, Mashhad, Iran, e-mail: shirin_hydryahoo.com