Acanthamoeba castellanii alone is not a growth promoter for Hordeum vulgare

Protists are important key players in the microbial loop and influence their environment by grazing, which leads to the return of nutrients into the soil and reduces pathogen pressure on plants. Specifically, protists on and around plant roots are important for plants' development and growth. For this study, the fourth most important crop in the world, Hordeum vulgare, was selected. Seeds of H. vulgare were inoculated with Acanthamoeba castellanii alone or with additional soil bacteria at the beginning and during the experiment. The germination of the seeds and the growth of the plants in pouches were monitored over 3 weeks. No differences were found in leaf growth, root growth, root and leaf nitrogen content or ammonia content of the liquid from the pouches. In contrast, the relative increase in root and leaf dry weight showed a small difference compared to the controls. The results of this experiment demonstrated that seed inoculation with A. castellanii alone or with additional unidentified soil bacteria did not have a major effect on the growth and development of barley. Nevertheless, small changes in plant development were detected, indicating that A. castellanii should be considered for further investigation of co-inoculations with plant growth-promoting bacteria and additional nutrients.