Abstract
Iron (Fe) bioavailability to plants is reduced in saline soils; however, the exact mechanisms underlying this effect are not yet completely understood. Siderophore-expressing rhizobacteria may represent a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers by simultaneously tackling salt-stress effects and Fe limitation in saline soils. In addition to draught, plants growing in arid soils face two other major challenges: high salinity and Fe deficiency. Salinity attenuates growth, affects plant physiology, and causes nutrient imbalance, which is, in fact, one of the major consequences of saline stress. Iron is a micronutrient essential for plant development, and it is required by several metalloenzymes involved in photosynthesis and respiration. Iron deficiency is associated with chlorosis and low crop productivity. The role of microbial siderophores in Fe supply to plants and the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the mitigation of saline stress in crop culture are well documented. However, the dual effect of siderophore-producing PGPR, both on salt stress and Fe limitation, is still poorly explored. This review provides a critical overview of the combined effects of Fe limitation and soil salinization as challenges to modern agriculture and intends to summarize some indirect evidence that argues in favour of siderophore-producing PGPR as biofertilization agents in salinized soils. Recent developments and future perspectives on the use of PGPR are discussed as clues to sustainable agricultural practices in the context of present and future climate change scenarios.
Highlights
Soil salinization may be caused by natural processes or human activities
In this review we address the effect of soil salinity on plant growth, the relation between
An increase in root Fe chelate reductase activity was observed in barley and tomato plants exposed to Fe deficiency conditions, after inoculation with bacterial strains capable of producing high levels of siderophores, but expressing
Summary
Plants growing in arid soils face two major challenges: high salinity and iron (Fe) deficiency. Affects plant physiology and causes nutrient imbalance which is, one of the major consequences of saline stress. Fe is a micro-nutrient essential for plant development. It is required for several metalloenzymes involved in photosynthesis and respiration and Fe-deficiency is associated to chlorosis and low crop productivity. The role of microbial siderophores in Fe supply to plants is well documented as well as the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the Pedosphere mitigation of saline stress in crop cultures. This review provides a critical perspective on the combined effect of Fe limitation and soil salinization as challenges to modern agriculture and intends to summarize some indirect evidence that argue in favour of siderophore-producing PGPR as bio-fertilization agents in salinized soils.
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