Abstract
Haumaniastrum katangense and Crepidorhopalon
tenuis are two cuprophytes characteristic of
the Katangan Copper Belt flora. We have studied the
endophytic bacteria of H. katangense and C. tenuis as a
first step to evaluate their potential contribution to plant
adaptation to copper excess. Although their number
varied considerably from sample to sample, culturable
bacteria were found in roots and shoots of most plants.
More than 800 isolates were screened for each plant
species. Identification of isolates based on the sequence
of the 16S rRNA gene, allocated them to 31 taxonomic
units, belonging to 17 genera, mainly Proteobacteria. A
great proportion of the bacteria were cupro-resistant
and often resistant to other metals, especially zinc and
cobalt, as well as nickel for the Methylobacterium
isolates. Direct PCR amplification of the polymorphic
bacterial internal transcribed spacer (ITS) from the
plants’ organs DNA revealed a more diverse endophytic
community, with more Gram+, among which a
Rubrobacteridae that was never found associated with
plants before. This work represents the first study of
endophytes in Katangan cuprophytes
Details
Original language | English |
---|
Pages (from-to) | 461-474 |
---|
Journal | Plant and Soil |
---|
Volume | 334 |
---|
Issue number | 1-2 |
---|
DOIs | |
---|
Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
---|