1. Microbiological Features and Bioactivity of a Fermented Manure Product (Preparation 500) Used in Biodynamic Agriculture
- Author
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Flavio Fornasier, Pietro Piffanelli, Valeria Rizzi, Andrea Squartini, Elena Vendramin, Fabio Stellin, Alessandro Piccolo, Giuseppe Concheri, Riccardo Spaccini, Sara Alberghini, Pierluigi Mazzei, Serenella Nardi, Piergiorgio Stevanato, Marina Zanardo, Matteo Giannattasio, Andrea Ertani, Giannattasio, M, Vendramin, E, Fornasier, F, Alberghini, S, Zanardo, M, Stellinf, Concheri, G, Stevanato, P, Ertani, A, Nardi, S, Rizzi, V, Piffanelli, P, Spaccini, Riccardo, Mazzei, Pierluigi, Piccolo, Alessandro, and Squartini, A.
- Subjects
biodynamic agriculture ,auxin-like activity ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Actinobacteria ,Soil ,Preparation 500 ,Gammaproteobacteria ,Food science ,Phylogeny ,Soil Microbiology ,horn manure ,Bacteria ,biology ,business.industry ,Fungi ,General Medicine ,Biostimulants ,biology.organism_classification ,Manure ,Biotechnology ,Quorum sensing ,Microbial population biology ,Fermentation ,Soil fertility ,business ,Soil microbiology - Abstract
The fermented manure derivative known as Preparation 500 is traditionally used as a field spray in biodynamic agriculture for maintaining and increasing soil fertility. This work aimed at characterizing the product from a microbiological standpoint and at assaying its bioactive properties. The approach involved molecular taxonomical characterization of the culturable microbial community; ARISA fingerprints of the total bacteria and fungal communities; chemical elemental macronutrient analysis via a combustion analyzer; activity assays for six key enzymes; bioassays for bacterial quorum sensing and chitolipooligosaccharide production; and plant hormonelike activity. The material was found to harbor a bacterial community of 2.38 × 10(8) CFU/g dw dominated by Grampositives with minor instances of Actinobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. ARISA showed a coherence of bacterial assemblages in different preparation lots of the same year in spite of geographic origin. Enzymatic activities showed elevated values of beta-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, chitinase, and esterase. The preparation had no quorum sensing-detectable signal, and no rhizobial nod gene-inducing properties, but displayed a strong auxin-like effect on plants. Enzymatic analyses indicated a bioactive potential in the fertility and nutrient cycling contexts. The IAA activity and microbial degradation products qualify for a possible activity as soil biostimulants. Quantitative details and possible modes of action are discussed.
- Published
- 2013