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Differential effects of salinity and osmotic stress on the plant growth-promoting bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5

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Abstract

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) represent a promising alternative to the massive use of industrial fertilizers in agriculture. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a PGPB that colonizes several plant species. Although this bacterium is able to grow at high sucrose concentrations, its response to environmental stresses is poorly understood. The present study evaluated G. diazotrophicus PAL5 response to stresses caused by sucrose, PEG 400, NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4 and K2SO4. Morphological, ultrastructural and cell growth analysis revealed that G. diazotrophicus PAL5 is more sensitive to salt than osmotic stress. Growth inhibition and strong morphological changes were caused by salinity, in consequence of Cl ion-specific toxic effect. Interestingly, low osmotic stress levels were beneficial for bacterial multiplication, which was able to tolerate high sucrose concentrations, Na2SO4 and K2SO4. Our data show that G. diazotrophicus PAL5 has differential response to osmotic and salinity stress, which may influence its use as inoculant in saline environments.

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Acknowledgments

We want to thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia da Fixação Biológica de Nitrogênio (INCT-FBN), which have supported this research. The first author received a CAPES fellowship.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Laboratory of Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro – UENF (State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro - UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-600, Brazil

      Marcos Vinicius V. De Oliveira, Aline C. Intorne, Luciano de S. Vespoli, Mariana R. Leandro, Marília A. Berbert-Molina & Gonçalo A. De Souza Filho

    2. Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro – UENF (State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro - UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

      Hérika C. Madureira & Telma N. S. Pereira

    3. Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro – UENF (State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro - UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

      Fábio L. Olivares

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    1. Marcos Vinicius V. De Oliveira
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    2. Aline C. Intorne
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    Correspondence to Gonçalo A. De Souza Filho.

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    Communicated by Erko Stackebrandt.

    Marcos Vinicius V. De Oliveira, Aline C. Intorne and Luciano de S. Vespoli have contributed equally to this work.

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    De Oliveira, M.V.V., Intorne, A.C., Vespoli, L.S. et al. Differential effects of salinity and osmotic stress on the plant growth-promoting bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5. Arch Microbiol 198, 287–294 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-015-1176-2

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