Abstract
Background: The application of microorganisms as bioestimulants in order to increase the yield and/or quality of agricultural products is becoming a widely used practice in many countries. In this work, five plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), isolated from cultivated rice paddy soils, were selected for their plant growth-promoting capacities (e.g., auxin synthesis, chitinase activity, phosphate solubilisation and siderophores production). Two different tomato cultivars were inoculated, Tres Cantos and cherry. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions and different phenotypic characteristics were analysed at the time of harvesting. Results: Tres Cantos plants inoculated with PGPR produced less biomass but larger fruits. However, the photosynthetic rate was barely affected. Several antioxidant activities were upregulated in these plants, and no oxidative damage in terms of lipid peroxidation was observed. Finally, ripe fruits accumulated less sugar but, interestingly, more lycopene. By contrast, inoculation of cherry plants with PGPR had no effect on biomass, although photosynthesis was slightly affected, and the productivity was similar to the control plants. In addition, antioxidant activities were downregulated and a higher lipid peroxidation was detected. However, neither sugar nor lycopene accumulation was altered. Conclusion: These results support the use of microorganisms isolated from agricultural soils as interesting tools to manipulate the level of important bioactive molecules in plants. However, this effect seems to be very specific, even at the variety level, and deeper analyses are necessary to assess their use for specific applications.
Highlights
In nature, all plant organs are colonised in some way by fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa, algae but, above all, bacteria [1]
Aerobic culturable bacteria from rhizosphere soil samples were isolated in tryptone soy agar (TSA) medium and identified based on colony morphology and pigmentation
Plants must deal with a myriad of different microorganisms in soils, forming a complex community with the so-called phytomicrobiome [46,47]
Summary
All plant organs are colonised in some way by fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa, algae but, above all, bacteria [1]. The use of microorganisms in agriculture is becoming an important alternative to traditional fertilisation, and many beneficial effects of this application have been described in terms of plant growth, stress tolerance or plant nutrition [1,2,3,4]. Conclusion: These results support the use of microorganisms isolated from agricultural soils as interesting tools to manipulate the level of important bioactive molecules in plants. This effect seems to be very specific, even at the variety level, and deeper analyses are necessary to assess their use for specific applications
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