The role of ACC deaminase producing bacteria in improving sweet corn (Zea mays L. var saccharata) productivity under limited availability of irrigation water

Abstract

Accumulation of stress ethylene in plants due to osmotic stress is a major challenge for the achievement of optimum sweet corn crop yield with limited availability of irrigation water. A significant increase in earth’s temperature is also making the conditions more crucial regarding the availability of ample quantity of irrigation water for crops production. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can play an imperative role in this regard. Inoculation of rhizobacteria can provide resistance and adaptability to crops against osmotic stress. In addition, these rhizobacteria also have potential to solve future food security issues. That's why the current study was planned to examine the efficacious functioning of Pseudomonas fluorescens strains on yields and physiological characteristics of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var saccharata) under different levels of irrigation. Three irrigation levels i.e., 100% (I100 no stress), 80% (I80), and 60% (I60) were used during sweet corn cultivation. However, there were four rhizobacteria strains i.e., P. fluorescens P1, P. fluorescens P3, P. fluorescens P8, P. fluorescens P14 which were used in the experiment. The results showed that severe water stress (60% of plant water requirement) decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents, Fv/Fm ratio and nutrients uptake. A significant increase in F0, Fm, proline, total soluble sugars, catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activity led to less ear yield and canned seed yield. Combination of four strains significantly increased the yield traits of sweet corn i.e., ear and (44%) and canned seed yield (27%) over control. The highest promoting effect was observed in the combination of four strains treatment and followed by P1 strain in reducing the harmful effects of drought stress and improving sweet corn productivity. However, P14 gave minimum improvement in growth and yield indices under limited availability of water. In conclusion, combination of four strains inoculation is an efficacious approach for the achievement of better yield of sweet corn under osmotic stress.

Pseudomonas 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) Deaminase and Its Role in Beneficial Plant-Microbe Interactions

“…The application of a bacterial inoculant based on four ACC deaminase-producing Pseudomonas strains improved sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) productivity under the limited availability of irrigation water [91]. The study demonstrated that the combination of Pseudomonas sp.…”

“…The study demonstrated that the combination of Pseudomonas sp. strains P1, P3, P8, and P14 significantly increased the ear and canned seed yield of sweet corn (44%, and 27%, respectively) compared to the non-inoculated control [91].…”

Improving crop drought resistance with plant growth regulators and rhizobacteria: Mechanisms, applications, and perspectives

“…In addition, inoculation with ACC deaminase-producing PGPRs has positive effects on photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, water-use efficiency, transpiration rate, vapor pressure, chlorophyll content, and carbon content of maize plants under drought stress ( Danish et al., 2020 ; Nadeem et al., 2020 ). ACC deaminase-producing PGPRs also enhance osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defenses of host plants under drought stress ( Gowtham et al., 2020 ; Zarei et al., 2020 ).…”

“…For example, one study ( Batool et al., 2020 ) found that the PGPR B. subtilis HAS31 maintained potato growth and yield under drought stress by activating CAT, POD, SOD, and other antioxidant enzymes. Inoculation of tomato and maize with the ACC deaminase-producing bacteria B. subtilis rhizo SF48 or Pseudomonas fluorescens strains improved antioxidant enzyme activities, alleviated oxidative damage caused by drought, and improved crop yield ( Gowtham et al., 2020 ; Zarei et al., 2020 ).…”

Transcriptome Reveals the Dynamic Response Mechanism of Pearl Millet Roots under Drought Stress

“…Drought is a major threat to global agricultural production that limits the growth, development and survival rate of plants, leading to tremendous losses in yield [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. It can cause morphological changes and cell damage in plants [ 5 , 6 ], affecting the mechanisms of networks of gene expression in plants and causing many physiological and metabolic processes to be reprogrammed in response to stress [ 7 ].…”