ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Arpita Singh1,2 and Puneet Singh Chauhan1,2
1Microbial Technologies Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow – 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
2Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad – 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2022;16(1):669-684 | Article Number: 7458
https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.16.1.69 | © The Author(s). 2022
Received: 29/11/2021 | Accepted: 28/01/2022 | Published online: 25/02/2022

Issue online: March 2022

Abstract

Multiple plant growth-promoting attributes with N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing exhibiting bacterial strains can help plants to withstand varying abiotic and biotic stress conditions for improving the plant health and productivity. In total, 306 bacterial isolates were isolated from diverse locations and sites. In our exploration, bacterial isolates were screened based on AHL production, plant growth-promoting attributes, abiotic stress tolerance, and antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi. Among the screened 306 isolates, 4 (11VPKHP4, 7VP51.8, P51.10, NBRI N7) were selected based on their efficiency in AHL production, biofilm formation, enduring different abiotic stress conditions, exhibiting plant growth-promoting attributes, and antagonistic activity. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses of the selected 4 isolates belong to Pseudomonas genera. Selected isolates 11VPKHP4, 7VP51.8, P51.10, and NBRI N7 were also proficient in biosurfactant production, emulsification, suggesting that all isolates fabricate emulsifiers. The plant growth promotion potential of selected 4 bacterial isolates showed significant growth enhancement in all the vegetative parameters of Zea mays under control as well as drought stress condition. Biochemical parameters and defense enzymes under drought stress conditions were also modulated in the PGPR treated plants as compared to their uninoculated respective controls. With quorum sensing, multiple PGPR attributes, stress tolerance, biofilm formation, and EPS production the selected isolates have the potential to facilitate enhanced plant growth, rhizosphere colonization, maintenance of soil moisture content under normal and diverse stresses.

Keywords

Quorum sensing, AHL, PGPR, Biofilm, Drought

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