2.MI707-Aris Tri Wahyudi Available online at http://jurnal.permi.or.id/index.php/mionline DOI: 10.5454/mi.7.3.2ISSN 1978-3477, eISSN 2087-8575 Vol 7, No 3, September 2013, p 94-104 *Corresponding author; Phone/Fax: 0251-8622833 , Email: aristri2011@gmail.com Rhizospheres are containing microorganisms that could increase plant growth. These bacteria are call plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that have a significant effect for plant growth, directly and indirectly. PGPR have been capability in producing indole acetic acid (IAA) hormone, exopolysaccharide (EPS), ACC-deaminase, as phosphate solubilizing, and biocontrol agents of pathogenic fungi (Dey et al. 2004; Kaci et al. 2005; Husen et al. 2011). IAA hormones is one of the plant growth hormone that plays a role in several aspects of plant growth, including cell division and elongation, differentiation, tropisms, apical dominance, aging, abscission, and flowering (Zhao et al. 2001). Drought can affect microorganisms and plant growth since water becomes a limiting factor for plants Rhizobacteria have been known for their capability as plant growth promoter through some mechanisms, directly and indirectly. The purpose of this research to screen rhizobacteria of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. for their drought tolerance as plant growth promoter of maize (Zea mays). Screening of rhizobacteria as growth promoter of 47 isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and 34 isolates of Pseudomonas sp. CRB resulted 24 and 9 isolates were able to stimulate the growth of maize sprouts, respectively. Further screening of those growth promoter of the rhizobacterial isolates to drought tolerance resulted 7 isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and 6 isolates of Pseudomonas sp. CRB that were able to grow on medium with osmotic pressure -1 and -2 MPa, respectively. Potential rhizobacterial isolates of growth promoter and drought tolerance were tested for antagonist mechanisms which aims to determine ability to live together in one carrier medium if to be made formulation. Both non antagonist rhizobacterial isolates were evaluated for their potential in producing exopolysaccharide -1 (EPS) revealing that CRB 19 and CR 90 exhibited the highest activity of EPS production up to 0.346 mg mL on -1 medium with -2.0 MPa and 0.107 mg mL on medium with -0.73 MPa, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis, it revealed CRB 19 and CR 90 had highest similarities to Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain B2 and Brevibacillus brevis B33, respectively. Those growth promoter and drought tolerant of Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB had potency to be developed as inoculants in dry land agriculture. Key words: Bacillus sp. CR, drought tolerant, growth promoter, Pseudomonas sp. CRB, rhizobacteria Rizobakteria diketahui memiliki kemampuan sebagai pemacu tumbuh tanaman melalui beberapa mekanisme, baik secara langsung maupun tidak langsung. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menyeleksi rizobakteria Bacillus spp. dan Pseudomonas spp. toleran kekeringan sebagai pemacu pertumbuhan tanaman jagung (Zea mays). Penapisan rizobakteria pemacu tumbuh dari 47 isolat Bacillus sp. CR dan 34 isolat Pseudomonas sp. CRB mendapatkan masing-masing 24 dan 9 isolat yang secara signifikan memacu pertumbuhan. Isolat pemacu tumbuh selanjutnya diseleksi terhadap toleran kekeringan, lalu didapatkan 7 isolat Bacillus sp. CR dan 6 isolat Pseudomonas sp. CRB yang dinyatakan toleran kekeringan. Masing-masing isolat mampu tumbuh pada media dengan tekanan osmotik -1 dan -2 MPa. Isolat potensial pemacu tumbuh toleran kekeringan diuji sifat antagonisnya untuk mengetahui kemampuannya hidup bersama pada satu media pembawa jika dibuat formula. Isolat yang tidak saling antagonis selanjutnya dievaluasi potensinya dalam menghasilkan eksopolisakarida. -1 CRB 19 dan CR 90 masing-masing menghasilkan eksopolisakarida tertinggi hingga 0.346 mg mL pada medium -1 -2.0 MPa dan 0.107 mg mL pada medium -0.73 MPa. Berdasarkan sekuens gen 16S rRNA, CRB 19 memiliki kemiripan tertinggi dengan Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain B2 dan CR 90 dengan Brevibacillus brevis B33. Bacillus sp. CR dan Pseudomonas sp. CRB pemacu tumbuh dan toleran kekeringan tersebut berpotensi untuk dikembangkan sebagai inokulan di lahan kering. Kata kunci : Bacillus sp. CR, pemacu tumbuh, Pseudomonas sp. CRB, rizobakteria, toleran kekeringan Screening of Rhizobacteria for Plant Growth Promotion and Their Tolerance to Drought Stress 1 1 RAHAYU FITRIANI WANGSA PUTRIE , ARIS TRI WAHYUDI *, ABDJAD ASIH 2 3 NAWANGSIH , AND EDI HUSEN 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Jalan Agatis, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Kampus Dramaga Bogor 16680, Indonesia; 2 Department of Plant Protections, Faculty of Agriculture, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Jalan Agatis Kampus Dramaga Bogor 16680, Indonesia; 3 Soil Research Institute, BBSDLP, Jalan Tentara Pelajar, Bogor 16114, Indonesia and microorganisms to survive. One way drought adaptation of microorganisms are secretion of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in higher amounts. EPS are structural component of extracellular matrix in biofilms are synthesized by cells to respond physiological stress in the environment (Marvasi et al. 2010). EPS were produced as response biotic and abiotic stress factors to adaptation in extreme environments. The main function is to assist the protection against environmental stresses. Microorganisms such as Agrobacterium sp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Xanthomonas campestris, Bacillus sp., Zygomonas mobilis, Leuconostoc, Pseudomonas sp., Acetobacter xylinum, and several other genera of microorganisms are known to produce EPS (Donot et al. 2011). EPS production by Rhizobium sullae KYGT207 strain was isolated from dry land in South Algeria (Gassi Touil) and was known to contribute of water absorption and nutrients by roots through modification of physical properties of Triticum durum rhizosphere. In vivo test which inoculated KYGT207 strain on wheat plants was also known to give significant influence as the plant growth promotion. EPS in sandy soil can protect plants from stress, lack of water and contributes to the formation of soil aggregates (Kaci et al. 2005). Previously we have isolated two groups of PGPR, Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB from rhizosphere of soybean plant of Cirebon field area West Java (Wahyudi et al. 2011 a.b). The use of drought tolerance of PGPR in plant growth promotion is an effective and environmentally friendly step. Objective of this study was to screen PGPR Pseudomonas sp. CRB and Bacillus sp. CR for plant growth promoting of maize under drought stress condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS Screening of Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. as Growth Promoter of Maize. Initial stage was seed surface sterilization (Somasegaran and Hoben 1985). Sterilized seeds were then soaked in distilled water for 24 h to speed up the germination process. After 24 h, seeds were placed in Petri dishes covered by filter paper that was previously moistened with distilled water for 24 h. Fourty seven isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and 34 isolates of Pseudomonas sp. CRB were cultured on nutrient -1 -1 broth (NB) (yeast extract 2 g L , peptone 5 g L , NaCl 5 -1 -1 g L ) and King’s B medium (peptone 20 g L , K HPO 2 4 -1 -1 -1 1.5 g L , MgSO 1.5 g L , and glycerol 15 mL L ) shaked 4 at 120 rpm for 24 h at room temperature, respectively. Seeds that have been germinated with 2-3 mm long of primary roots were transferred to a Petri dish that contains 1% water agar medium and each seed was inoculated with 100 µL culture of Bacillus sp. CR or 9 Pseudomonas sp. CRB with a cell density of 10 cells -1 mL . Seeds with medium without inoculum were used as a control. Seeds that had been inoculated with bacteria were incubated for 7 d at room temperature in dark conditions. Growth parameters measured were length of stem, root length, and number of lateral roots (Dey et al. 2004). Data obtained from this experiments were statistically analyzed by one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SAS 9.1 software and followed by Duncan’s test (DMRT) at 5% level. Screening of Drought Tolerance. Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB were cultured in nutrient broth (NB) medium. Two hundred µL preculture of each isolates was inoculated in 20 mL of medium containing polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) with concentrations of 0, -0.73, -1, -1.5, -2, and -2.5 MPa. Concentration of osmotic pressure arrangements according to PEG 6000 calculated by Michel and Kauffman (1973). Incubation of medium that had been inoculated with bacterial isolate was performed at room temperature for 24 h by shaking at 120 rpm. Optical density (OD) of each bacterial culture was measured using spectrophptometer at a wavelength of 570 nm. Medium without bacterial inoculation was used as a control. Bacteria that were able to grow minimum at -0.73 MPa with OD 0.4 catagorized as drought tolerant (Sandhya et al. 2009). Antagonism Test. The purpose of this test was to determine capability of Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB to live together in one medium with no competition each other if to be made formulated. Each isolates was grown in LB medium -1 -1 - (tryptone 10 g L , NaCl 10 g L , and yeast extract 5 g L 1 8 ) at 120 rpm for 24 h to reach concentration of 10 cells -1 mL . Antagonism test was done by the following ways: 10 mL of LA medium was inoculated with 100 µL targets culture, then poured into a sterile Petri dish. A total of 1 mL test culture on LB medium with cell 8 -1 density of 10 cells mL was centrifuged 10 min at 10 000 rpm to obtain the supernatant futher used to antagonism test. Sterile paper discs were given for each supernatant test culture then placed on the dish containing LA medium that had been inoculated with the targets culture for further incubated. Each isolate CR and CRB were used as the test culture and targets culture. Antagonism was shown by a clear zone around the paper disc. Test of Exopolysaccharide (EPS) Production. Volume 7, 2013 Microbiol Indones 95 Isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB were grown in NB medium added by PEG 6000 to induction of drought stress. Culture incubation was performed in an incubator shaker at room temperature for 72 h, furthermore the cultures were centrifuged to separate the supernatant and pellet. Each supernatant was mixed with 3 mL of cold absolute alcohol and incubated overnight at 4 °C. EPS was obtained by centrifugation for 15 min at 10 000 rpm. Quantity of total carbohydrate content which settles on the EPS was measured using the method described by Dubois et al (1956). Optical density of each EPS sample was measured using spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 490 nm. Phospate Solubilization Test. Test of phosphate solubilization was performed by standard methods. Pseudomonas sp. CRB or Bacillus sp. CR was grown by streaking on Pikovskaya Agar plate medium -1 containing tricalcium phosphate (glucose 10 g L , -1 -1 -1 NaCl 0.2 g L , KCl 0.2 g L , MgSO .7H O 0.1 g L , 4 2 -1 -1 MnSO .2H O 2.5 mg L , FeSO .7H O 2.5 mg L , yeast 4 2 4 2 -1 -1 extract g L , (NH ) SO 1 gL-1, and Ca (PO ) 5 g L ). 4 2 4 3 4 2 Plates were incubated at room temperature for 72 h. Clear zone formed around the colony indicated the bacteria solubilized phosphate. The clear zone was formed by these bacteria were measured to determine phosphate solubilization index (PSI). Molecular Identification Based on 16S rRNA Sequence. Bacterial genomes were extracted by the Cetyl Trimetyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) method. 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR with 63F primers (5’-CAGGCCTAACACATGCAAGTC-3’) and 1387R (5’-GGGCGGWTGGTACAAGGC-3’) (Marchesi et al. 1998) in total volume of 50 µL. The PCR volume contains of 1 µL of genomic DNA template; 1 µL of primer for each forward and reverse, 25 µL of 2X Phusion Master Mix (Thermo Scientific Phusion High Fidelity), 1 µL of DMSO, and ddH O to a 2 volume of 50 µL. Amplification was performed for 30 cycles that include stages of initial denaturation at a temperature of 94 °C for 2 min, denaturation at a temperature of 92 °C for 30 sec, annealing at a temperature of 55 °C for 30 sec, extension at 72 °C for 1 min, and final extension at 72 °C temperature for 7 min. DNA of PCR products were purified and sequenced and analyzed by comparing the sequences with GenBank database using the BlastN program to determine similarity. The DNA sequences were also analyzed their phylogenetic tree using Mega5 and ClustalW software. RESULTS Results of this study, 24 out of 47 isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and 9 out of 34 isolates of Pseudomonas sp. CRB screened for growth promotion revealed that they had capability in promoting growth of maize sprouts. Bacillus could increase the growth of shoot length, root length, and number of lateral root of maize sprouts. Pseudomonas could increase the growth of root length and stem length of maize sprouts. This results also revealed that Bacillus sp. CR 36 was able to increase all parameters of the growth of maize, significantly (Table 1,2). All of the rhizobacteria selected as plant growth promoting were screened for their drought tolerance. Seven isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and six isolates of Pseudomonas sp. CRB were classified as drought tolerant, they were able to grow in medium with -1.0 MPa for Bacillus sp. CR, and -2.0 MPa for Pseudomonas sp. CRB (Table 3 and 4). Rhizobacteria Pseudomonas sp. CRB, and Bacillus sp. CR which could grow in the highest osmotic presssure were subjected to antagonism test to know their capability to survive in one medium. Results of this experiment are performed in Table 5 and Table 6. Moreover, the potent isolate of rhizobacteria, CRB and CR were examined for their EPS production. Isolate CRB 19 exhibited the highest activity of EPS production to -1 0.346 mg mL in NB medium with -2.0 MPa of osmotic pressure. Average of EPS produced by Pseudomonas sp. CRB was higher than Bacillus sp. CR. Bacillus sp. CR produced EPS within a range of -1 0.050-0.107 mg mL on medium with -0.73 MPa of -1 osmotic pressure and 0.072-0.096 mg mL on medium with -1 MPa of osmotic pressure (Fig 1A). Pseudomonas sp. CRB was able to produce EPS -1 within a range of 0.062-0.196 mg mL on medium with -0.73 MPa of osmotic pressure and within a range -1 0.055-0.197 mg mL on medium with -1 MPa of osmotic pressure (Fig 1B). Majority, Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB have been known their ability as phospate solubilizing on Pikovskaya agar medium. Pseudomonas sp. CRB 10 was known as the highest in phospate solubilizing. Phosphate solubilizing index of Pseudomonas sp. CRB and Bacillus sp. CR within a range of 0.18-0.67. All those isolates of rhizobacteria were able to solubilyze Phosphate solubilizing index clear zone diameter - colony colony diameter = 96 PUTRIE ET AL. Microbiol Indones Pseudomonas sp. CRB and Bacillus sp. CR classified as growth promoter of maize and drought tolerant, were phosphate, except CR 67, CR 90, and CRB 4. Futhermore, eight potential isolates of rhizobacteria Treatment Shoot length (cm) Root length (cm) Number of lateral root CR 61 15.5 a 13.8 n 14.0 lmnopqr CR 39 15.0 ab 15.0 lnm 24.4 c CR 6 14.6 abc 16.8 ijkl 24.8 c CR 59 14.5 abcd 19.7 defgh 12.6 pqr CR 32 14.3 abcd 17.4 hijk 14.8 klmnopq CR 69 14.2 abcd 25.2 b 20.2 de CR 42 13.9 abcde 15.1 lnm 11.0 r CR 12 13.7 abcdef 22.5 c 19.6 defg CR 36 13.5 abcdefg 25.5 b 28.0 ab CR 3 13.3 abcdefgh 25.7 b 12.2 pqr CR 51 13.1 abcdefgh 21.1 cdef 19.4 defgh CR 81 12.9 bcdefghij 20.8 cdef 13.6 mnopqr CR 79 12.8 bcdefghij 29.6 a 26.0 bc CR 30 12.5 bcdefghijk 17.7 hijk 13.4 nopqr CR 83 12.4 bcdefghijk 28.8 a 17.8 efghijk CR 22 12.4 bcdefghijk 22.3 c 13.8 mnopqr CR 86 12.3 bcdefghijk 14.4 mn 29.8 a CR 31 12.2 cdefghijk 25.2 b 21.4 d CR 74 12.2 cdefghijk 22.5 c 16.4 ghijklmn CR 54 12.1 cdefghijk 18.4 ghij 16.2 hijklmn CR 2 12.1 cdefghijk 25.1 b 19.4 defgh CR 56 12.1 cdefghijk 18.8 fghi 13.2 nopqr CR 66 12.0 cdefghijk 21.7 cd 16.2 hijklmn CR 25 12.0 cdefghijk 21.9 cd 15.2 jklmnop CR 90 11.9 cdefghijk 25.5 b 17.6 efghijk CR 21 11.9 cdefghijk 21.8 cd 24.4 c CR 88 11.8 defghijk 16.2 jklm 17.2 efghijkl CR 34 11.8 defghijk 17.0 ijkl 26.6 bc CR 15 11.7 defghijk 19.1 efghi 11.8 qr CR 29 11.4 efghijk 20.8 cdef 19.0 defghi CR 26 11.4 efghijk 22.2 cd 15.0 jklmnopq CR 17 11.2 efghijk 20.7 cdefg 12.6 pqr CR 64 11.1 fghijk 21.5 cd 18.2 efghij CR 50 11.0 fghijk 15.7 klmn 12.8 opqr CR 27 10.9 ghijk 25. 1 b 11.2 r CR 13 10.7 ghijk 14.2 nm 20.0 def CR 91 10.7 ghijk 22.7 c 14.0 lmnopqr CR 23 10.7 ghijk 17.0 ijkl 18.0 efghij CR 75 10.7 ghijk 21.4 cde 18.6 defghi CR 55 10.6 hijk 22.2 c 16.0 ijklmno CR 8 10.6 hijk 25.2 b 12.6 pqr CR 67 10.4 ijk 22.1 cd 24.6 c Control 10.3 ijk 20.2 cdefg 17.4 efghijk CR 38 10.2 jk 18.8 fghi 19.0 defghi CR 24 10.2 jk 22.2 cd 14.0 lmnopqr CR 46 10.1 jk 25.0 b 24.6 c CR 33 10.0 k 27.9 a 13.6 mnopqr CR 47 9.70 k 21.7 cd 16.8 fghijklm Table 1 Effect of Bacillus sp. isolates in some growth parameters of maize Numbers within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at 5% level by DMRT (α=0.05). Bold indicated growth promoter isolates compared with control. Volume 7, 2013 Microbiol Indones 97 DISCUSSION Some studies suggest that Bacillus sp. and molecularly indentified based on 16S rRNA gene and sequence (Table 7 and 8). Phylogenetic tree analysis using neighboor joining method (Fig 2 A,B). Treatment Root length (cm) Shoot length (cm) Treatment Root length (cm) Shoot length (cm) Group 1 Group 4 Control 10.8 abc 17.5 abc Control 6.6 abc 12.7 abcd CRB 42 9.6 abc 12.1 abc CRB 64 9.2 cdef 18.9 d CRB 55 10.1 abc 13.1 abc CRB 85 6.1 ab 12.8 abcd CRB 107 11.7 abc 15.4 abc CRB 71 10.2 ef 18.8 d CRB 88 11.4 abc 19.4 abc CRB 3 9.3 cdef 18.0 cd Group 2 CRB 4 10.6 f 15.0 abcd Control 10.9 ab 10.1 a CRB 11 2 8.9 cdef 19.1 d CRB 34 12.4 abc 16.2 b CRB 90 8.7 bcdef 13.8 abcd CRB 111 11.9 ab 14.4 ab CRB 25 7.5 abcde 11.2 ab CRB 19 14.2 bcd 16.9 b CRB 104 5.7 a 10.4 a CRB 24 18.7 d 15.6 b CRB 76 8.0 abcdef 13.9 abcd CRB 115 7.9 a 13.1 ab CRB 113 8.7 bcdef 13.4 abcd CRB 47 17.8 cd 14.7 b CRB 96 7.6 abcde 12.9 abcd CRB 77 9.3 ab 10.1 a CRB 33 8.7 bcdef 12.0 abc CRB 58 10.4 ab 12.6 ab CRB 36 8.1 abcdef 15.7 abcd CRB 10 12.3 abc 16.9 b CRB 69 8.8 bcdef 17.4 bcd Group 3 CRB 63 8.2 abcdef 16.9 bcd Control 11.3 a 10.2 a CRB 40 9.1 cdef 17.9 cd CRB 23 14.0 a 16.6 b CRB 92 7.1 abcd 18.6 cd CRB 98 13.0 a 16.5 b CRB 100 9.6 a 9.8 a Table 2 Effect of Pseudomonas sp. isolates in some growth parameters of maize Table 3 Optical density values of Bacillus sp. isolates in osmotic pressure of 0, -0.73, -1, -1.5 at λ 570 nmand Mpa Numbers within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at 5% level by. DMRT (α = 0.05). Bold indicated growth promoter isolates compared with control. Bold of figures and letters indicated drought tolerant isolates. MPa: Mega Pascal Isolates code Osmotic pressure 0 MPa -0.73 MPa -1 MPa -1.5 MPa CR 33 1.514 0.504 0.400 0.071 CR 61 1.273 0.400 0.290 0.000 CR 69 1.011 0.681 0.271 0.000 CR 36 1.425 0.471 0.412 0.064 CR 83 1.073 0.758 0.464 0.017 CR 39 1.118 0.763 0.483 0.056 CR 51 1.317 0.496 0.138 0.000 CR 46 1.056 0.547 0.476 0.022 CR 67 0.95 0.503 0.432 0.033 CR 31 1.069 0.698 0.329 0.000 CR 90 1.063 0.682 0.559 0.028 CR 32 1.11 0.763 0.326 0.000 98 PUTRIE ET AL. Microbiol Indones might be caused by their IAA concentration is too high, for example isolate CR 55 producing IAA up to 44.66 ppm (Wahyudi et al. 2011a). The highest of IAA concentration was known to stimulate the growth of maize using biological fertilizer within a range 54.55 ppm in leaves and 22.68 ppm in roots, respectively. Leaf tissue contains a higher IAA concentration rather than root tissue (Wibowo 2008). High levels of IAA hormone would promote formation of ethylene and Pseudomonas sp. have been capability to increase plant height by producing IAA hormones (Patten and Glick 2002; Leveau and Lindow 2005; Wahyudi et al. 2011a,b). Rhizobacteria as growth promoter in this research previously also had been tested in producing IAA hormone within a range 2.82-22.79 ppm (Wahyudi et al. 2011a,b). Other isolates, 23 strains of Bacillus and 25 strains of Pseudomonas did not have ability as growth promotion of maize sprouts. This Isolates Code Osmotic pressure 0 MPa - 0.73 MPa - 1 MPa - 1.5 MPa - 2 MPa - 2.5 MPa CRB 4 1.742 1.362 1.254 0.966 0.792 0.490 CRB 10 1.084 0.773 0.727 0.843 0.725 0.173 CRB 19 1.789 1.058 1.017 1.086 0.872 0.563 CRB 23 1.719 1.654 1.331 0.506 0.431 0.000 CRB 47 1.709 1.249 1.151 0.771 0.630 0.000 CRB 98 1.713 1.092 1.042 1.015 0.831 0.664 Table 4 OD values of Pseudomonas sp. isolates in osmotic pressure of 0 MPa to -2.5 MPa at λ 570 nm Table 5 Inhibition zone formation by Bacillus sp. (CR) as target bacteria against Pseudomonas sp. (CRB) as test bacteria Table 6 Inhibition zone formation by Pseudomonas sp. (CRB) as target bacteria against Bacillus sp. (CR) as test bacteria OD value ≥ 0.4 indicated drought tolerant isolates. MPa: Mega Pascal Target isolates Test isolates CRB 98 CRB 23 CRB 10 CRB 47 CRB 4 CRB 19 CR 33 - - - - - - CR 39 + + - - - - CR 83 - - - - - + CR 67 - - - - - - CR 90 + + - - - - CR 36 + - + + + + CR 46 - - - - - - Target Isolates Test isolates CR 33 CR 39 CR 83 CR 67 CR 90 CR 36 CR 46 CRB 98 + + - - + + - CRB 23 - + - - + - - CRB 10 - - - - - + - CRB 47 - - - - - + - CRB 4 - - - - - + - CRB 19 - - + - - + - Volume 7, 2013 Microbiol Indones 99 CR : Bacillus sp. (+) : no clear zone CRB : Pseudomonas sp. ( ) : no clear zone-- Information : CR : Bacillus sp. (+) : no clear zone CRB : Pseudomonas sp. ( ) : no clear zone-- Fig 1 EPS concentration produced by Bacillus sp. CR (A) and Pseudomonas sp. CRB (B) at different osmotic pressure. Table 7 Identification of 16S rRNA gene sequence homology of isolates of Bacillus sp. CR with sequences available in Genbank using BlastN program Isolates Species most related Sequence similarity Length (bp) Query Cover E-Value Accession number CR 46 Bacillus isabeliae strain CVS-8 83% 846/1018 82% 0.00 NR 042619.1 CR 67 Brevibacillus brevis strain NBRC 15304 100% 659/659 100% 0.00 NR 041524.1 CR 83 Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 strain ATCC 14579 100% 566/566 100% 0.00 NR 074540.1 CR 90 Brevibacillus brevis strain bB33 97% 1200/1243 92% 0.00 JF772474.1 Osmotic presure (MPa) E P S c o n c e n tr a ti o n -1 (m g m L ) B 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0 -0.73 -1 -1.5 -2 -2.5 CRB 98 CRB 23 CRB 10 CRB 47 CRB 4 CRB 19 E P S c o n c e n tr a ti o n -1 (m g m L ) 100 PUTRIE ET AL. Microbiol Indones were the most sensitive organ to fluctuations of IAA levels and its response of increase exogenous IAA widespread in the number of primary root elongation, stop the growth. Bacteria PGPR had ability in producing IAA and insert that into pool auxin hormone of plant. Plant roots Isolates Species most related Sequence similarity Length (bp) Query Cover E-Value Accession number CRB 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain L1 99% 434/440 94% 0.00 JX292018.1 CRB 19 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain B2 91 % 966/1062 98 % 0.00 JQ900536.1 CRB 23 Pseudomonas fragi strain ATCC 4973 84% 657/780 83% 0.00 NR 024946.1 CRB 98 Pseudomonas sp. CL 3.1 97% 1297/1334 99% 0.00 FM173664.1 Table 8 Identification of 16S rRNA gene sequence homology isolates of Pseudomonas sp. CRB with sequences available in Genbank using BlastN program Fig 2 Phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene of Bacillus sp. (A) and Pseudomonas sp. (B) compared with 16S rRNA gene of other species. Scale showed that distance evolution on the branch length, while the numbers on the branches indicate bootstrap values. NR 027552.1| Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis strain DSM 10 NR 074977.1| Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 strain SAFR-032 NR 074923.1| Bacillus licheniformis DSM 13 ATCC 14580 strain ATCC 14580 DSM 13 CR 83 NR 074540.1| Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 strain ATCC 14579 NR 042619.1 Bacillus isabeliae strain : CVS-8 CR 67 NR 041524.1 Brevibacillus brevis strain NBRC 15304 NR 040979.1| Brevibacillus formosus strain DSM 9885 JF772474.1| Brevibacillus brevis strain bB33 CR 46 CR 90 100 93 87 58 99 99 92 0.1 A NR 024946.1| Pseudomonas fragi strain ATCC 4973 NR 044974.1| Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. chlororaphis strain DSM 50083T NR 041715.1| Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 17588 LMG 11199 strain ATCC 17588 CRB 19 JQ900536.1| Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain B2 JX292018.1| Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain L1 EU833948.1| Pseudomonas putida strain FWC30 FM173667.1| Pseudomonas sp. CL3.5 isolate CL3.59 CRB 98 FM173664.1| Pseudomonas sp. CL3.1 isolate CL3.13 CRB 10 CRB 23 93 77 93 52 100 82 78 74 88 0.1 B Volume 7, 2013 Microbiol Indones 101 of EPS linearly with stress experienced by cells as a form of physiological adaptation so that cells could survive. Therefore, the capability in producing EPS by bacterial cells used as drought tolerance criteria for bacteria (Sandhya et al. 2009). Production of EPS would increased by cells during stress experienced as a form of physiological adaptation so that cells could survive. EPS were produced to protect bacterial cells from drought, heavy metals or other environmental stresses, including host immune response and to produce a biofilm which could increase survival cell in specific ecological niches (Ozturk and Aslim 2010). Quantity and composition of EPS vary greatly depending on genus and species of bacteria, in some cases dependent on environmental conditions for growth. In addition, the carbon sources in medium was functioning as a component of cell formation, source of energy required for synthesis and EPS excretion (Santi 2011). B. subtilis could produce levan exopolysaccharide -1 within a range 0.32-86.3 g L using sucrose as substrate. A total of 16 genes of operon EPS (yveKyvfF) involved in the biosynthesis, modification and expenditure. Recently, two genes epsG (yveQ) and epsH (yveR) had been identified that might be involved in the biosynthesis. epsG encodes a protein that might be involved in EPS polymerization and epsH encodes a glycosyltransferase (Marvasi et al. 2010). Species of Pseudomonas has been known for their capability producing EPS in alginate type. Approximately 24 genes in P. aeruginosa were identified. Cluster consisted of 12 structural genes (algD, alg8, alg44, algK, alge, algG, algX, algL, algl, algJ, algF, and algae) were clustered in a single operon approximately 3.96 Mb. Only algC genes located on separate chromosomes. Those gene encodes for phosphomanno- mutase involved in rhamnolipid and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. Operon was containing all the genes that encode proteins involved in the biosynthesis of alginate (algD and algae for precursor synthesis, algl, algJ, and algF for acetylation, algG to epimerisasi, algL for degradation) (Hay et al. 2010). The potent isolates CRB 19 and CR 90 exhibited the highest activity of EPS secretion and based on 16S rRNA analysis revealed CRB 19 and CR 90 belonged to P. aeruginosa strain B2 and Brevibacillus brevis B33, respectively Other studies showed that those group was known as promoting growth in plants. P. aeruginosa FP6 isolated from rhizosphere had been known for their capability as phosphate solubilizing, producer of IAA hormone, ammonia, sidherophore, and cells wall . lateral root formation and adventitious roots until termination of growth on the plant (Leveau and Lindow 2005). Patten and Glick (2002) also stated that the high of exogenous IAA would increase ethylene production which would effect to inhibition of roots growth. Other mechanism that had capable to support as plant promoting growth by CR and CRB are their ability in phosphate solubilizing which one of the essential nutrients for plants. Phosphate in soils were present in bound form. Phosphate bound with 3+ 3+ 2+ aluminium (Al ), iron (Fe ), calcium (Ca ), and 2+ magnesium (Mg ). Thus, only it a small fraction which could be absorbed by plants (Trivedi and Pandey, 2007), PGPR had been ability to solubilyze bound phosphate so that could be absorbed by plants. Screening of drought tolerant aimed to determine of isolates which could survive on drought condition so their can survive when applied in the field. The addition of PEG 6000 on medium which bound water molecule were simulated as drought stress so that could reduce of potential water value. Consequently, reduction of potential water value by the high of PEG concentration on medium would cause decreasing survival of bacterial population. Optical density values linearly related to water potential contained on medium. Reduction of water potential values would decrease number of bacterial population. Therefore, PEG 6000 which soluble in water used to reduce of water potential value. Water potential associated with level of drought would affect to capability survive of bacteria. Isolates that had cappability to grow on medium with a certain of potential water value and OD value ≥ 0.4 classified as drought tolerant isolates (Alikhani and Mohamadi 2010). Majority, the result of antagonism test for plant promoting growth and drought tolerant isolates showed the same result for isolate CR and CRB were used as the test culture and targets culture, respectively. Formation of clearing zone around paper disc occured by production of certain compounds by bacteria test that inhibited growth of bacterial target or while back of test. Isolates with different results founded in isolates CR 33 which wasn’t antagonis to CRB 98 when CR 33 was used as target isolates and isolate CR 83 wasn’t antagonis to CRB 19 when CR 83 as a target. This result might be caused by differences substance when isolates were used as targets and test isolates. When isolate used as targets, the substances were intact cells while tested back were used supernatant. Tolerances to the drought stress were characterized by production of EPS. This indicates that production 102 PUTRIE ET AL. Microbiol Indones Biotechnol. 85(6):752-759. Husen E, Wahyudi AT, Suwanto A, Giyanto. 2011. Growth enhancement and disease reduction of soybean by 1- aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase-produ- cing Pseudomonas. Am J Appl Sci. 8(11):1073-1080. Kaci Y, Heyraud A, Barakat M, Heulin T. 2005. 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Modification of exopolysaccharide composition and production by three cyanobacterial isolates under salt stress. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 17(3):595-602. Patten CL, Glick BR. 2002. Role of Pseudomonas putida indoleacetic acid in development of the host plant root system. Appl Environ Microbiol. 68(8):3795-3801. doi:10.1128/AEM.68.8.3795-3801.2002. Trivedi P, Pandey A. 2007. Low temperature phosphate solubilization and plant growth promotion by psychrotrophic bacteria, isolated from Indian Himalayan region. Microbiol. 2(5):454-461. Sandhya, Ali SKZ, Minakshi G, Gopal R, Venkateswarlu. 2009. Alleviation of drought stress effects in sunflower seedlings by the exopolysaccharides producing Pseudomonas putida strain GAP-P45. Biol Fertil Soils. 46(1):17-26. Santi LP. 2011. The Role of exopolysaccharide producing bacteria in aggregation of a sandy soil texture [dissertati- on]. Bogor (ID) : Institut Pertanian Bogor. Somasegaran P, Hoben HJ. 1985. Methods in Legume- Rhizobium Technology. Hawaii:Department of Agro- nomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii. Wahyudi AT, Astuti RP, Widyawati A, Meryandini A, Nawangsih AA. 2011a. Characterization of Bacillus sp. strains isolated from rhizosphere of soybean plants for their use as potential plant growth for promoting rhizobacteria. J Microbiol Antimicrob. 3(2):34-40. Wahyudi AT, Astuti RI, Giyanto. 2011b. Screening of Pseudomonas sp. isolated from rhizosphere of soybean doi:10.1002/jctb.2372. doi:10.1002/ jctb.2372. doi:10.1007/s00374-009-0401-z. degrading enzyme such as cellulase, chitinase, and protease. Inoculation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds by those bacteria given significantly effect (P<0.05) for enhanced seed germination (92%), seedling vigor index, plant height, and also fresh and dry weight in compared with control (Bhakthavatchalu et al. 2013). B. brevis strain IPC11 also known could increase seed germination, producing phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme and reduced cancer disease in tomato (Girish and Umesha 2005). Finally, the potent isolates of Bacillus sp. CR and Pseudomonas sp. CRB have capability to live in drought condition and could be developed as inoculants in dry land agriculture when it put in medium carrier as biofertilizer. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research was supported by I-MHERE B2c. Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and a grant from the Collaborative Research Project of KKP3N, Department of Agriculture, Indonesia to ATW. Therefore, authors thank and appreciate for all the supports given to carry out this research. REFERENCES Alikhani HA, Mohamadi L. 2010. Assesing tolerance of rhizobial lentil symbiosis isolates to salinity and th drought in dry land farming condition. 19 World Congress of Soil Science, Soil Solutions for Changing World. Australia, 1-6 August 2010. Bhakthavatchalu S, Shivakumar S, Sullia SB. 2013. 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