Comparison of eight Pisolithustinctorius isolates for growth rate, enzyme activity, and phytohormone production

Abstract

Eight isolates of Pisolithustinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch (three each from Georgia and northern California and one each from Oregon and Washington) were compared invitro for growth rate, for alkaline and acid phosphatase and nitrate reductase activities, for acid phosphatase isozyme patterns, and for cytokinin, indoleacetic acid, and gibberellin production. Significant differences appeared between isolates for each parameter examined. All isolates showed relatively low phosphatase and nitrate reductase activities. Isolate S-359 from northern California grew the slowest in culture and produced significantly more indoleacetic acid than all other isolates and more cytokinin than six of the other seven isolates; this isolate was also the only one of the eight that did not share at least one acid phosphatase allele with the others in the isozyme analysis.