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Development of two culture media for mass cultivation of Azospirillum spp. and for production of inoculants to enhance plant growth

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Abstract

High yield culture medium is fundamental for production of inoculants for plant growth-promoting bacteria. Based on substitution of glucose in tryptone–yeast extract–glucose medium by Na-gluconate or glycerol, two new culture media were developed for mass cultivation of the commonly used plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum sp. After 18 h of incubation, these modifications increased populations of different strains of Azospirillum (to ∼1011 cells ml−1 [single cell count] and ∼5 × 109 CFU ml−1 [plate count method]), significantly reduced generation time, and were also suitable for production of common synthetic inoculants.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales of Mexico (SEMARNAT contract 23510) and the time for writing by The Bashan Foundation, USA. Ira Fogel of CIBNOR provided useful editorial comments. A.T. is a recipient of a fellowship from the graduate school at CIBNOR, with additional funding from the Bashan Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Microbiology Group, Northwestern Center for Biological Research (CIBNOR), Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23090, Mexico

    Yoav Bashan, Adan Trejo & Luz E. de-Bashan

  2. The Bashan Foundation, 3740 NW Harrison Blvd., Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA

    Yoav Bashan & Luz E. de-Bashan

Authors
  1. Yoav Bashan
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  2. Adan Trejo
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  3. Luz E. de-Bashan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoav Bashan.

Additional information

This study is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Jesus Caballero-Mellado (1953–2010) of Centro de Ciencias Genómicas de la UNAM, the pioneer of Azospirillum research in Mexico.

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Bashan, Y., Trejo, A. & de-Bashan, L.E. Development of two culture media for mass cultivation of Azospirillum spp. and for production of inoculants to enhance plant growth. Biol Fertil Soils 47, 963–969 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0555-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0555-3

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