Mining of drought Tolerant Endophytic Bacteria from Weed species of Dry Regions of Karnataka

Author: Divya S.K., Abhinandana K.R., Arati, Shashank S., Lohithkumar N. and Krishna Naik L.

Download PDF

Abstract

The present study aims to isolate and characterize the drought tolerant endophytic bacteria from different weed species grown on dry regions of Karnataka. Totally fifty endophytic bacterial isolates were isolated and were screened for different drought stress concentration (PEGMW8000 concentration -10, 15 and 20%). Among the isolates, eight isolates were able to grow at 20 percent PEGMW 8000 concentration (-0.51MPa), further these isolates characterized for drought tolerant potential and plant growth promotion potential under in-vitro condition. The results showed that among the isolates, two endophytic bacterial isolates viz., AVS2B and CDS1A isolated from the weed species Amaranthus viridis and Cynodon dactylon respectively exhibited positive response to most of the in vitro PGPR characteristics and drought tolerant characteristics studied under both stressed (-0.51MPa) and unstressed condition. Therefore, these strains could have vital implications for the agricultural sector if used as biofertilizer. Two efficient isolates. AVS2B and CDS1A were them molecularly identified as Alcaligenes faecalis and Pseudomonas taiwanensis respectively by 16S rRNA gene sequence.

Keywords

Drought tolerance, endophytic bacteria, Polyethylene glycol and plant growth promotion

Conclusion

To meet current and future demand of food for a rapidly growing population, novel and sustainable agricultural systems are needed to effectively use land and water resources. This is particularly important with the current climate change challenges where abiotic stress is a limiting factor to agronomic production. The present study explored several bacteria endophytes harbored by weeds species growing under drought stress. Two bacterial strains, Alcaligenes faecalis and Pseudomonas taiwanensis showed improved drought tolerance and also exhibited positive response to all the in-vitro PGPR characteristics studied. Therefore these strains could have vital implications for the agricultural sector if used as biofertilizer. These findings represent a promising environmentally friendly agricultural application to mitigate the effects of climatic change on crop productivity.

References

-

How to cite this article

Divya S.K., Abhinandana K.R., Arati, Shashank S., Lohithkumar N. and Krishna Naik L. (2023). Mining of drought Tolerant Endophytic Bacteria from Weed species of Dry Regions of Karnataka. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 602-609.