The effect of Pseudomonas koreensis on the level of drought tolerance of Helianthus annuus

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the major limitations to crop production worldwide and has been predicted to become more severe in the future due to global climate change. Research has often been focused on genetic engineering to improve the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are an alternative mechanism to improve the tolerance of plants to many stresses and is crucial for developing and third world countries. In this study, Helianthus annuus was inoculated with Pseudomonas koreensis and subjected to drought stress. The germination and growth characteristics, leaf water content, leaf electrolyte leakage and leaf area, substrate water content, phenolic compounds and proline concentration, root bacterial counts, as well as recovery and regrowth, were compared between uninoculated and inoculated plants. In addition, the phosphatase activity, siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, as well as growth at -0.73 MPa was compared between P. koreensis and P. fluorescens. It was found that inoculated plants were significantly taller plants and had a larger leaf area; and had significantly higher phenolic and proline concentration and a higher colonised root surface under drought stress. However, inoculation negatively affected germination and chlorophyll fluorescence. These plants also had a lower substrate water content under drought stress. P. koreensis outperformed P. fluorescens in all parameters studied, except for growth under osmotic stress. It can be concluded that P. koreensis generally improves the drought stress tolerance of H. annuus, however, further investigations are needed to determine the reasons for some of the negative effects.