Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) induces resistance against Fusarium wilt and improves lycopene content and texture in tomato

Abstract

Plant growth promoting Bacillus subtilis (BS2) was found effective against tomato wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f sp. lycopersici under field conditions. Pretreatment of tomato plants with B. subtilis BS2 significantly induced the activities of defense related enzymes viz., peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, chitinase and phenylalanine ammonialyase and phenolics when challenged with the pathogen. Apart from disease control, BS2 improved the fruit quality with high lycopene (76.30 mg/kg against control, 40.34 mg/kg) and texture (90.5 F max against control, 56.35 F max ) during harvest and even 15 days after harvest, similar trend was maintained unequivocally indicating that plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can improve the nutritional quality as well as shelf life of the fruits.

PGPR Mediated Alterations in Root Traits: Way Toward Sustainable Crop Production

“…Tomato plants pretreated with B. subtilis BS2 has significantly induced defense mechanisms viz., polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, chitinase, phenolics and phenylalanine ammonialyase. Inoculation also improved the nutritional quality and fruit yield (Loganathan et al, 2014). Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SQR9 a beneficial bacteria showed strong antifungal activity against six tested soil-borne pathogens Fusarium solani, Verticillium dahliae Kleb, Rhizoctonia solani Kahn, Sclerotinia sclerotiovum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.…”

“…Many PGPR especially Pseudomonas and Bacillus species have been well-reported to play important roles in plant growth promotion through the biocontrol of a broad range of plant pathogens, by eliciting ISR, production of antimicrobial compounds (lipopeptides, antibiotics, and enzymes) and acting as competitors for growth factors (space and nutrients) with other pathogenic microorganisms through colonization (Pal et al, 2001;Haas and Defago, 2005;Weller, 2007;Loganathan et al, 2014;Singh et al, 2014;Bodhankar et al, 2017;Shafi et al, 2017;Hashem et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2019). Certain PGPR like Azospirillum spp.…”

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Elite Indigenous <i>Rhizobia</i> Nodulating <i>Phaseolus</i> bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.)

“…Genera Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Allorhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Arzorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium which all together form Rhizobia, play a vital role in converting free nitrogen in the soil into ammonia [54]. Also some species of bacteria that belongs to genus Bacillus like B. cereus, B. fusiformis, B. marisflavi and B. alkalidiazotrophicus are involved in nitrogen fixation [58] but rhizobia remains as the most effective nitrogen fixing bacteria [23] [59]- [61].…”

Isolatation, authentication and evaluation of symbiotic effectiveness of elite indigenous rhizobia nodulating phaseolus vulgaris l. in Hai district, Northern Tanzania

“…Although P. vulgaris yield in Tanzania is below its production potential (< 3 t ha -1 ), the crop is widely grown in most regions of the country (Hillocks et al, 2006;Kisetu et al, 2013;Ndakidemi and Semoka, 2006). Of recent, there is renewed interest in the use of BNF technology in agricultural systems mainly to overcome problems associated with depletion of soil nitrogen and as an alternative to excessive use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers (Loganathan et al, 2014a). Apart from the soil fertility aspect, BNF helps to improve food safety and enhances conservation of biodiversity since it poses no adverse impact to the environment (Ghimire, 2002;Haru and Ethiopia, 2012;Jonah et al, 2012;Mfilinge et al, 2015).…”

“…Rhizobia are found to have many benefits in agriculture industry. Some of the documented benefits include; promotion of plant growth through nitrogen fixation, solubilization of insoluble phosphate, controlling crop diseases, chelation of iron and bioremediation of heavy metals (Zaidi et al, 2009;Loganathan et al, 2010;Kala et al, 2011;Bhattacharyya and Jha, 2012;Loganathan et al, 2014a;Pawar et al, 2014;).…”