Abstract
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. (guar) is a commercially important crop known for its galactomannan content in seeds. Drought stress is a significant global concern that compromises the productivity of major legumes including guar. The endophytic microbes associated with plants play a significant role in enhancing plant growth and modulating the impact of abiotic stress(s). The present study involved the isolation of 73 endophytic bacteria from the guar seeds of drought-tolerant (RGC-1002 and RGC-1066) and sensitive (Sarada and Varsha) varieties. Based on multiple PGP attributes and drought tolerance, at 50% PEG6000 w/v, 11 efficient isolates were selected and identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Isolates belonging to ten different species of bacilli including Cytobacillus oceanisediminis, Mesobacillus fermenti, Peribacillus simplex from sensitive and Bacillus zanthoxyli, B. safensis, B. velezensis, B. altitudinis, B. licheniformis, B. tequilensis, and B. paralicheniformis isolated from tolerant varieties. A greenhouse experiment with a drought-sensitive guar variety demonstrated that inoculation of selected isolates showed comparatively better plant growth, higher relative water content (RWC), decreased carbon isotope discrimination ratio (Δ13C), increased chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanin, and proline content, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and modulated defense enzymes as compared to their uninoculated controls. Tolerant variety isolates B. tequilensis NBRI14G and B. safensis NBRI10R showed the most promising results in improving plant growth and also drought stress tolerance in guar plants. This study represents for the first time that seed endophytic bacterial strains from guar can be utilized to develop the formulation for improving the productivity of guar under drought-stress conditions.
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Abbreviations
- A :
-
Net photosynthetic rate
- ACC-1:
-
Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate
- APX:
-
Ascorbate peroxidase
- CAT:
-
Catalase
- DW:
-
Dry weight
- E:
-
Transpiration
- EPS:
-
Exopolysaccharide
- FW:
-
Fresh weight
- GPX:
-
Guaiacol peroxidase
- g s :
-
Stomatal conductance
- IAA:
-
Indole-3-acetic acid
- IRMS:
-
Isotope ratio mass spectrometer
- MDA:
-
Malondialdehyde
- PEG:
-
Polyethylene glycol 6000
- PGPB:
-
Plant growth-promoting bacteria
- RL:
-
Root length
- RWC:
-
Relative water content
- SL:
-
Shoot length
- SOD:
-
Superoxide dismutase
- TW:
-
Turgid weight
- WUE:
-
Water use efficiency
- Δ13C, CID:
-
Carbon isotope discrimination ratio
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Acknowledgements
Senior Research Fellowships provided to Vaishali Umrao, Sushma Yadav, and Pradeep Semwal by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, for providing the necessary facilities. This manuscript bears CSIR-NBRI communication number, CSIR-NBRI_MS/2024/02/04.
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Vaishali Umrao performed the experiments, analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript; Sushma Yadav helped in carrying out the experiments and drafting the manuscript; Pradeep Semwal contributed in the validation of experiments; Sankalp Misra helped in writing original draft and editing; Shashank Mishra helped with methodology and arranged the resources; Puneet Singh Chauhan helped in conceptualization, critical revision, and final approval of the manuscript; Pramod Arvind Shirke conceptualized, supervised the research, and revised and finalized the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
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Umrao, V., Yadav, S., Semwal, P. et al. Endophytic bacilli from Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. induces plant growth and drought tolerance. Int Microbiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-024-00499-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-024-00499-6