Water stress amelioration and plant growth promotion in wheat plants by osmotic stress tolerant bacteria

Abstract

Soil microorganisms with potential for alleviation of abiotic stresses in combination with plant growth promotion would be extremely useful tools in sustainable agriculture. To this end, the present study was initiated where forty-five salt tolerant bacterial isolates with ability to grow in high salt medium were obtained from the rhizosphere of Triticum aestivum and Imperata cylindrica. These bacteria were tested for plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria traits in vitro such as phosphate solubilization, siderophore, ACC deaminase and IAA production. Of the forty-five isolates, W10 from wheat rhizosphere and IP8 from blady grass rhizosphere, which tested positive in all the tests were identified by morpholological, biochemical and 16SrDNA sequencing as Bacillus safensis and Ochrobactrum pseudogregnonense respectively and selected for in vivo studies. Both the bacteria could promote growth in six varieties of wheat tested in terms of increase in root and shoot biomass, height of plants, yield, as well as increase in chlorophyll content. Besides, the wheat plants could withstand water stress more efficiently in presence of the bacteria as indicated by delay in appearance of wilting symptoms increases in relative water content of treated water stressed plants in comparison to untreated stressed ones, and elevated antioxidant responses. Enhanced antioxidant responses were evident as elevated activities of enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase as well as increased accumulation of antioxidants such as carotenoids and ascorbate. Results clearly indicate that the ability of wheat plants to withstand water stress is enhanced by application of these bacteria which also function as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

The Role of Soil Beneficial Bacteria in Wheat Production: A Review

“…In a similar study conducted on wheat under water stress environment showed that mycorrhizal inoculation enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase and catalase compared to those in uninoculated control plants [136]. Several other studies report similar outcomes [137].…”

“…Wheat (T. aestivum) [137] Heavy metal-stressed Bacillus sp Wheat (T. aestivum) Indole-3-acetic acid Antioxidant defence system SOD shoots and roots Shoot POD and CAT [198] Heavy metal…”

Diversity of culturable bacteria in deep-sea water from the South Atlantic Ocean

“…32 B. safensis are salt-tolerating, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria. 33,34 The production of industrially important enzymes such as endoinulinase, 35 b-galactosidase 36 and lipases 37 by some strains of B. safensis have been reported. However, there are few reports of B. safensis strains isolated from deep-sea water.…”

Beneficial microbiomes: Biodiversity and potential biotechnological applications for sustainable agriculture and human health

“…Cold stress Growth and alleviation [82] Bacillus aryabhattai BCZ17 Drought and heat stress Growth, yield, stress [81] Bacillus endophyticus BNW9 Alkalinity stress Growth and alleviate alkalinity [81] Bacillus licheniformis HSW-16 Salinity stress Growth and productivity [83] Bacillus nanhaiensis IARI-THD-20 Alkalinity stress Growth and alleviation [15] Bacillus safensis W10 Drought and heat stress Plant growth and yield [84] Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN Drought and heat stress Growth and grain yield [85] Cellulomonas turbata AS1 Cold stress Growth and yield [86] Flavobacterium psychrophilum HHS2-37 Cold stress Growth and yield [28] Klebsiella sp. SBP-8 Salinity stress Plant growth and yield [87] Lysinibacillus fusiformis IARI-THD-4 Acidic stress Growth and yield [15] Micrococcus roseus SW1 Acidic stress Growth and yield [88] Paenibacillus polymyxa BNH18 Cold stress Growth, alleviate cold [81] Paenibacillus xylanexedens BNW24 Alkalinity stress Growth and alleviate alkalinity [81] Pantoea intestinalis DSM 28113 T Drought and heat stress Alleviate drought stress [89] Piriformospora indica (Pi) Drought and heat stress Drought resistance, growth [90] Planococcus salinarum BSH13 Acidic stress Growth and alleviate acidity [81] Pseudomonas fluorescens 153 Salinity stress Salinity stress, growth [91] Pseudomonas lurida M 2 RH 3 Cold stress Growth and nutrient uptake [92] Pseudomonas poae IARI-NIAW2-1 Drought and heat stress Growth, yield [13] Pseudomonas putida AKMP7 Drought and heat stress Growth, alleviate heat stress [93] Pseudomonas putida 108 Salinity stress Salinity stress, growth [91] Pseudomonas rhizosphaerae IARI-DV-26 Alkalinity stress Growth and alleviation [81] Pseudomonas sp.…”