Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum Consortium Facilitates Higher Acquisition of N, P with Improved Carbon Allocation and Enhanced Plant Growth in Oryza sativa

Abstract

The soil microbiome contributes to nutrient acquisition and plant adaptation to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. Numerous studies have been conducted over the past decade showing that plants take up nutrients better when associated with fungi and additional beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth, but the mechanisms by which the plant host benefits from this tripartite association are not yet fully understood. In this article, we report on a synergistic interaction between rice (Oryza sativa), Piriformospora indica (an endophytic fungus colonizing the rice roots), and Azotobacter chroococcum strain W5, a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium. On the basis of mRNA expression analysis and enzymatic activity, we found that co-inoculation of plant roots with the fungus and the rhizobacterium leads to enhanced plant growth and improved nutrient uptake compared to inoculation with either of the two microbes individually. Proteome analysis of O. sativa further revealed that proteins involved in nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism are upregulated and improve nitrogen and phosphate uptake. Our results also show that A. chroococcum supports colonization of rice roots by P. indica, and consequentially, the plants are more resistant to biotic stress upon co-colonization. Our research provides detailed insights into the mechanisms by which microbial partners synergistically promote each other in the interaction while being associated with the host plant.

Piriformospora indica Improves Drought Tolerance in Tomato Plants through Enhanced Nutrient Uptake and Antioxidant Enzymes

“…According to a study by Abdelaziz et al [15], Arabidopsis seedlings that were inoculated with P. indica demonstrated a noteworthy reduction in Na + uptake and an increase in K + concentration compared to non-inoculated plants. Enhanced nutrient uptake and growth promotion by P. indica colonization was also reported in rice [16]. Drought and salinity stress share common characteristics in terms of their impact on plants.…”

The potential of biostimulants on soil microbial community: a review

“…Moreover, Wang H.-R. et al (2022) reported how AMFs were introduced into tobacco plants and further revealed the association between improved N assimilation and upregulation of nitrate reductase (NR) potential. The greater the NR activity granted for a better N uptake, the greater the increase in the production of amino acid and protein biosynthesis (Bandyopadhyay et al, 2022).…”

Analysis of growth dynamics in five different media and metabolic phenotypic characteristics of Piriformospora indica

“…It shares similarities with some AM fungi, such as G. mosseae and Gigaspora margarita (Chen et al, 2007 ; Venice et al, 2020 ). They are both endophytic fungi that can coexist with the host plant (Singh et al, 2000 ; Kesharwani et al, 2022 ), promote the absorption of mineral elements and cycling substances in the soil, and enhance the plant's resistance to biotic and abiotic stress (Xu et al, 2018 ; Bandyopadhyay et al, 2022 ). Compared to the AM fungus, P. indica has notable advantages, such as its ability to obtain nutrition from non-living sources and its wide range of host plants (Varma et al, 2001 ; Deshmukh et al, 2006 ; Oelmüller et al, 2009 ).…”