Articles
ENDOPHYTIC COLONIZATION OF BURKHOLDERIA PHYTOFIRMANS STRAIN PSJN INDUCES DROUGHT-STRESS TOLERANCE IN MAIZE
Article number
1009_14
Pages
117 – 125
Language
English
Abstract
Drought stress is one of the major constraints hampering agricultural production owing to its impact on plant water status and photosynthetic pigments.
The effect of inoculation of a plant-growth promoting bacterium Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN on growth, water status and photosynthetic activity of two maize cultivars under drought stress conditions was investigated.
Drought stress induced by withholding irrigation had drastic effects on growth and photosynthesis of maize seedlings.
However, seed bacterization of maize with B. phytofirmans PsJN improved plant (root/shoot) biomass, leaf chlorophyll contents and relative water status up to 61, 21 and 29%, respectively over control under drought stress conditions.
Similarly, PsJN inoculation significantly increased photochemical efficiency of PSII and photosynthetic activity up to 9 and 68% of the cultivar Mazurka compared to control under stressed conditions.
Contrary to this, inoculation decreased electrolyte leakage compared to uninoculated seedlings under drought stress.
The inoculant strain efficiently colonized maize seedling and recovered from root, shoot and leaves of irrigated and stressed plants.
In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrates that bacterial inoculants could be used to minimize the negative effects of drought stress on growth and photosynthesis of maize.
The effect of inoculation of a plant-growth promoting bacterium Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN on growth, water status and photosynthetic activity of two maize cultivars under drought stress conditions was investigated.
Drought stress induced by withholding irrigation had drastic effects on growth and photosynthesis of maize seedlings.
However, seed bacterization of maize with B. phytofirmans PsJN improved plant (root/shoot) biomass, leaf chlorophyll contents and relative water status up to 61, 21 and 29%, respectively over control under drought stress conditions.
Similarly, PsJN inoculation significantly increased photochemical efficiency of PSII and photosynthetic activity up to 9 and 68% of the cultivar Mazurka compared to control under stressed conditions.
Contrary to this, inoculation decreased electrolyte leakage compared to uninoculated seedlings under drought stress.
The inoculant strain efficiently colonized maize seedling and recovered from root, shoot and leaves of irrigated and stressed plants.
In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrates that bacterial inoculants could be used to minimize the negative effects of drought stress on growth and photosynthesis of maize.
Authors
M. Naveed, B. Mitter, A. Sessitsch, T.G. Reichenauer
Keywords
endophytic bacteria, plant growth promotion, photosynthesis, drought tolerance
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