The Expression of Selected Drought Responsive Genes of Maize Is Influenced by Endophytic Bacterial Inoculation

Abstract

Plants respond to abiotic stresses through a series of molecular, cellular and physiological changes. These responses are further influenced by the interactions between host plant and the associated rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms. The endophytic microorganisms, due to their intimate proximity with the host plant, are considered to have major influence on plant’s physiological responses. In the present study, three drought tolerant and plant growth promoting maize seed endophytic bacteria, Bacillus sp. MSEB 17, Bacillus sp. MSEB 72 and Bacillus sp. MSEB 78 were used as seed inoculants in maize (var Bioseed 9681) under drought stress conditions in a growth chamber pot study and their influence on four drought responsive genes (Zmdhn1, GRMZM2G055844, GRMZM2G467339 and GRMZM2G109448) in maize leaves was studied by real time PCR using specific primers. The influence of inoculation on host plant’s response to drought was evident from altered expression of target genes when compared with uninoculated plants. Notably, inoculation with MSEB 17 increased the expression of three target genes, Zmdhn1 (dehydrin) gene, GRMZM2G467339 gene and GRMZM2G109448 gene by several folds. This study revealed the role of endophytic in alleviating the effect of drought stress in maize plants through regulating plant growth and physiological response.

Endophytic bacteria perform better than endophytic fungi in improving plant growth under drought stress: A meta‐comparison spanning 12 years (2010–2021)

“…This meta-analysis demonstrated that both EB and EF inoculation enhanced chlorophyll content under drought stress, in line with previous findings (Bodhankar et al, 2020;He et al, 2021;Li, He, et al, 2019b;Zhang et al, 2019). In addition, our meta-analysis demonstrated that EB inoculation enhances chlorophyll contents more than EF inoculation.…”

“…Chlorophyll depletion has been related to drought stress, and chlorophyll content is a crucial indicator of drought tolerance in plants (Tiwari et al, 2016; Zhou et al, 2016). This meta‐analysis demonstrated that both EB and EF inoculation enhanced chlorophyll content under drought stress, in line with previous findings (Bodhankar et al, 2020; He et al, 2021; Li, He, et al, 2019b; Zhang et al, 2019). In addition, our meta‐analysis demonstrated that EB inoculation enhances chlorophyll contents more than EF inoculation.…”

Endophytic and rhizobacteria functionalities in alleviating drought stress in maize plants

“…Drought stress in maize plants: Implications and effects. The maize or corn plant is a significant food, feed and biofuel crop that makes a considerable contribution to ensuring food availability, livestock production (being an essential dietary component in animal feed formulation) and to the energy sector (Bodhankar et al 2020). However, the production output of maize is not sufficient enough to meet with the utilisation demand.…”

“…Maize responds to drought stress conditions through a sequence of biochemical, molecular, physiological, and morphological changes (Chukwuneme et al 2020a). Most times, the responses are inclined by associations between the hosts and the allied endophytic and rhizosphere microbes (Bodhankar et al 2020), which has attracted research interest in recent decades (Igiehon et al 2019). Though adaptable strategies to allay the devastating impacts of drought stress in maize crops as discussed above may be costly and timeconsuming (Niu et al 2018), the use of microbial resources provides an emerging, safe, revolutionary, and sustainable remedy to the consequences of drought as the potential of rhizosphere and endophytic microbes in improving drought stress tolerance in plants to attain optimal productivity and sustainable agriculture has been expressly docu- Alabama, USA Drought stress and the effect of plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria on maize growth The findings show that PGPR inoculation can promote improved plant root development (through the synthesis of plant growth regulators), resulting in greater water and nutrient absorption from the soil.…”

Comparative Analysis of the NDVI and NGBVI as Indicators of the Protective Effect of Beneficial Bacteria in Conditions of Biotic Stress

“…The technology based on suitable levels of fertilization combined with PGPB inoculation is a good strategy to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and their environmental impacts [ 12 ]. Due to their intimate relationship with host plants, PGPBs can be explored as suitable candidates for the development of bioinoculants; however, the intricacies of host–microorganism interactions are yet to be unraveled [ 13 ]. The emergence or re-emergence and rapid spread of bacterial plant diseases are global biothreats to crop biosecurity.…”