Tolerance to Drought in Leguminous Plants Mediated by Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium

Abstract

Water deficit is an abiotic factor that affects the agricultural production with high frequency and intensity, influencing aspects related to plant development, such as decrease in photosynthesis rate, reduction in leaf area [3], and stomata closing [4]. Crops normally present performance affected by water deficiency, which can cause lower growth and development (Figure 1), with progressive reduction in leaf dry matter [5] and consequent repercussion on production parameters, such as number of grains and pods per plant. Root system presents complex strategy aiming to maintain water supply in conditions of water deficit, by increasing the root elongation rate and completely inhibiting the shoot [6]. On the other hand, plants growing in low water potentials normally present root thinner [7], and this morphological modification is an adaptation to increase water absorption efficiency. Therefore, a combination of changes in morphological, physiological and biochemical levels are necessary to plant survival in environments affected by drought.

Advances in Host Plant and Rhizobium Genomics to Enhance Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Grain Legumes

“…5.1.1 Plant-Rhizobium Interactions for Alleviating Abiotic stress(es) Some microbes are known to affect rhizosphere soil physico-chemical properties. Research also shows that some microorganisms may influence the crop's adaptation to abiotic stresses such as drought, chilling injury, salinity, metal toxicity, and high temperature (Dimkpa et al, 2009;Cordeiro Brígido, 2012;da Silva Lobato et al, 2013;Grover et al, 2011). The extent and specificity of these existing plant-microbe interactions are, however, poorly understood (de Zelicourt et al, 2013).…”