The potential of Burkholderia sp. form Zea mays roots as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria

Abstract

The improvement of crop productivity has become a primary focus in modern agriculture, with ongoing research aimed at identifying effective strategies. In this context, the study aims to explore the potential of L-tryptophan (L-TRP) supplementation in enhancing the effectiveness of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Burkholderia sp. in promoting the growth of maize plants. The research background elucidates the crucial role of PGPR in enhancing plant health, while Burkholderia sp. has been identified as a promising PGPR for maize plants. However, the potential of adding L-TRP to enhance the performance of PGPR in the context of plant growth has not been fully explored. The research methodology involves the rejuvenation of Burkholderia sp. bacterial cultures followed by testing the influence of PGPR on maize plant growth in controlled pot experiments. Three treatment groups were formed: PGPR + L-TRP, PGPR without L-TRP, and a control group. Observations were made on plant growth and the concentration of plant hormones such as auxin and gibberellin, as well as siderophore activity. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate differences between treatment groups. The research findings indicate that L-TRP supplementation in PGPR Burkholderia sp. significantly increases plant auxin production. The PGPR + L-TRP treatment resulted in higher auxin concentrations compared to the PGPR without L-TRP treatment and the control group. Additionally, both PGPR treatments showed higher gibberellin concentrations than the control, although there was no significant difference between the two PGPR treatments. The findings suggest that PGPR, especially with L-TRP supplementation, also yield higher siderophore concentrations, indicating increased iron availability for plants. The novelty of this research lies in the revelation that L-TRP supplementation can enhance auxin production and siderophore availability by PGPR, providing important insights into the interaction between soil microbes and their host plants. The conclusion drawn from this study is that the combination of PGPR with L-TRP supplementation can be an effective strategy for enhancing agricultural yields, particularly in increasing maize crop productivity. The practical implications include the potential for developing optimized PGPR formulations with L-TRP supplementation to improve agricultural yields sustainably. The significance of these findings lies in uncovering new potential for enhancing crop productivity through the use of a combination of soil microbes and nutrient supplementation, laying the foundation for the development of more effective and environmentally friendly microbial-based agricultural strategies, focusing on the integration of PGPR with L-TRP supplementation in agricultural systems. This could provide innovative solutions for enhancing agricultural productivity sustainably while reducing reliance on expensive and potentially environmentally damaging chemical inputs.