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The utilization of leaf wax by N2-fixing micro-organisms on the leaf surface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. Samanta ,
A. K. Dutta  and
S. P. Sen
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Summary

The possibility of utilization of leaf wax by N2-fixing micro-organisms on the leaf surface of plants was examined. Chloroform and n-hexane extractable wax could be isolated in significant amounts, ranging between 0·13 and 6·83 g/kg fresh weight from leaves of rice cv. IR·26, wheat cv. Sonalika, jute cv. JRO 632, pigeon pea, Ficus benghalensis, F. religiosa, Eichornia crassipes, Calotropis procera and Cocos nucifera. Pigeon pea and coconut leaves were very rich in wax. The utilization of leaf wax was studied by observing the growth of micro-organisms in Burk's N-less DN2 medium containing 0·025% yeast extract and jute or coconut leaf wax as the sole C source. A 2·fold increase in growth was observed as compared with the control containing no wax. The most growth was exhibited by Pseudomonas azotogensis, P8. azotocolligans, Xanthobacter flavus, Azotobacter paspali 23A and Klebsiella pneumoniae Kupbr2. Utilization of wax components was studied by comparing the amounts of acetylated alcohols and methyl esters of fatty acids in leaves inoculated with those untreated with bacteria after separation of the components by gas chromatography. A strain of K. pneumoniae KUP4, the association of which very remarkably improved the growth of jute plants, was found to utilize particularly C10–, C13– and C16– saturatedfatty acids and C15–, C18–, C25–, C26– and C27– fatty alcohols. It is suggested that leaf wax may act partly as an energy substrate for growth of N2-fixing micro-organisms on the leaf surface.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 107 , Issue 3 , December 1986 , pp. 681 - 685
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

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