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Phosphate-Solubilizing Enterobacter ludwigii AFFR02 and Bacillus megaterium Mj1212 Rescues Alfalfa’s Growth under Post-Drought Stress

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  • Sang-Mo Kang

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
    Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Muhammad-Aaqil Khan

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Muhammad Hamayun

    (Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mardan 23200, Pakistan)

  • Lee-Rang Kim

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea)

  • Eun-Hae Kwon

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea)

  • Yo-Sep Kang

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea)

  • Ki-Yong Kim

    (National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Cheonan 31000, Korea)

  • Jae-Jeong Park

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea)

  • In-Jung Lee

    (Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea)

Abstract

Drought stress is a prevalent environmental stress that adversely affects agricultural industries worldwide. In this study, bacterial isolates, AFFR02 and Mj1212, showed tolerance to polyethylene glycol-induced (PEG) drought stress (approximately 15%) and possess strong phosphate-solubilizing capacity. Moreover, we investigated the plant growth attributes, chlorophyll content, and ion uptake in alfalfa plants ( Medicago sativa L) inoculated with isolates AFFR02 and Mj1212 under drought stress. We observed that drought stress drastically affects alfalfa’s growth attributes: shoot length: SL (24.88%), root length: RL (29.62%), shoot fresh weight: SFW (49.62%), root fresh weight: RFW (45.09%), stalk diameter: SD (52.84%), and chlorophyll content: CC (19.2%). However, in bacterial-inoculated alfalfa plants, the growth attributes significantly recovered were SL (12.42%), RL (21.30%), SFW (50.74%), RFW (46.42%), SD (76.72%), and CC (17.98%). In drought-stressed alfalfa plants, we observed a significant decrease in the relative water content (7.45%), whereas there was an increase in electrical conductivity (68.87%) and abscisic acid contents (164.42%). Antioxidant analysis showed a significant increase in total phenolic content (46.08%), DPPH-scavenging activity (39.66%), total flavonoid (13.68%), and superoxide dismutase (28.51%) in alfalfa treated with drought stress and bacterial isolates AFFR02 and Mj1212 simultaneously. Moreover, an increase in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis of potassium (17.98%), phosphorous (11.14%), calcium (3.07%), and magnesium (6.71%) was recorded for bacteria-inoculated alfalfa plants under drought stress. In conclusion, bacterial isolates AFFR02 and Mj1212 enhance alfalfa growth under drought stress. Therefore, the isolates could be used as potential candidates in smart-climate agricultural practices in drought-stricken areas worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Sang-Mo Kang & Muhammad-Aaqil Khan & Muhammad Hamayun & Lee-Rang Kim & Eun-Hae Kwon & Yo-Sep Kang & Ki-Yong Kim & Jae-Jeong Park & In-Jung Lee, 2021. "Phosphate-Solubilizing Enterobacter ludwigii AFFR02 and Bacillus megaterium Mj1212 Rescues Alfalfa’s Growth under Post-Drought Stress," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:6:p:485-:d:561278
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