Bacteria of the genus Azospirillum are well known as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. The ability to synthesize phytohormones is considered one of the most important mechanisms to promote plant growth and is widely distributed among plant-associated rhizobacteria.The most important phytohormone produced by Azospirillum is the auxin indole-3-acetic acid, with the L-tryptophan as the precursor. In the present study, we evaluate the capacity of eight Azospirillum strains isolated from rice and wheat, to produce in vitro auxins using plant exudates. Our results show that isolates produced auxins in tryptophan free media, but, generally, the amount produced increased when the tryptophan concentration increased. Some plants root exudates had a similar effect to tryptophan for the auxin production. In this sense, bean, rice and canola root extracts produced, respectively, 93.3%, 96.2%, and 88.31% more auxin than L-tryptophan. Azospirillum sp. isolate A3 had the maximal capacity to produce auxin. Therefore, the effect of cell free supernatant was studied on rice root development. Statistical analysis did not show any significant difference between root number and dry weight of the treated and control seedlings. However, significant differences were observed in root length and wet weight at α=0.01 and α=0.05, respectively.

Keywords: Azospirillum, Phytohormones, Auxins, Indole-3-acetic acid, Rice, Wheat, Root exudates

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