The rhizospheric zone abutting plant roots usually clutches a wealth of microbes. In the recent past, enormous genetic resources have been excavated with potential applications in host plant interaction and ancillary aspects. Two Pseudomonas strains were isolated and identified through 16S rRNA and rpoD sequence analyses as P. fluorescens QAU67 and P. putida QAU90. Initial biochemical characterization and their root-colonizing traits indicated their potential role in plant growth promotion. Such aerobic systems, involved in gluconic acid production and phosphate solubilization, essentially require the pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ)- dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) in the genome. The PCR screening and amplification of GDH and PQQ and subsequent induction of mutagenesis characterized their possible role as antioxidants as well as in growth promotion, as probed in vitro in lettuce and in vivo in rice, bean, and tomato plants. The results showed significant differences (p < or = 0.05) in parameters of plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight, etc., deciphering a clear and in fact complementary role of GDH and PQQ in plant growth promotion. Our study not only provides direct evidence of the in vivo role of GDH and PQQ in host plants but also reveals their functional inadequacy in the event of mutation at either of these loci.
Salt tolerant wheat cultivars may be used as genetic resource for wheat breeding to ensure yield stability in future. The study was aimed to select salt tolerant cultivar(s) to identify novel source of salt tolerance in local wheat germplasm. Initially, 40 local wheat cultivars were screened at 150 mM NaCl stress at seedling stage. Selected salt-tolerant (three; S-24, LU-26S and Pasban-90) and salt-sensitive (four; MH-97, Kohistan-97, Inqilab-91 and Iqbal-2000) wheat cultivars were further evaluated using growth, yield, biochemical and physiological attributes. Growth and yield of selected cultivars were reduced under salt stress due to decline in plant water status, limited uptake of macronutrients (N, P and K), reduced K+/Na+ ratio, photosynthetic pigments and quantum yield of PSII. Wheat plants tried to acclimate salt stress by osmotic adjustment (accumulation of total soluble sugars, proline and free amino acids). Degree of salinity tolerance in cvs. S-24 and LU-26S found to be associated with maintenance of K+/Na+ ratio, osmo-protectant and photosynthetic activity and can be used as donor for salt tolerance in wheat breeding program at least in Pakistan. These cultivars can be further characterized using molecular techniques to identify QTLs/genes for salt exclusion, osmo-protectant and photosynthetic activity for molecular breeding.
Global food production is threatened due to increasing salinity and can be stabilized by improving salt tolerance of crops. In the current study, salt tolerance potential of 40 local wheat cultivars against 150 mM NaCl stress was explored. Salt treatment at seedling stage caused less reduction in biomass, K+ and P while more decline of Na+ in tolerant cultivars due to reduced translocation and enhanced exclusion of Na+ from leaves. Principal component analysis based selected S-24, LU-26S, Pasban-90 (salt tolerant) and MH-97, Kohistan-97, Inqilab-91 and Iqbal-2000 (salt sensitive) cultivars were evaluated at adult stage applying 150 mM salinity. Osmotic adjustment by accumulation of soluble sugars and proline and accelerated antioxidant enzymes activities caused efficient scavenging of reactive oxygen species making S-24 and LU-26S tolerant while in MH-97 and Kohistan-97, high MDA represent greater membrane damage due to oxidative stress making them salt sensitive. Chlorophyll a fluorescence transients confirmed better efficiency of photosystem II in S-24 and LU-26S based on energy fluxes (ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC and DIo/RC), performance index (PIABS) and maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm). These findings can be correlated using molecular techniques to identify genes for salt exclusion, osmotic adjustment and photosynthetic activity for use in molecular breeding programs.
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