Abstract
Oregano from Socoroma (Atacama Desert) is characterized by its unique organoleptic properties and distinctive flavor and it is produced using ancestral pesticide-free agricultural practices performed by the Aymara communities. The cultivation in this zone is carried out under extreme conditions where the standard production of different crops is limited by several environmental factors, including aridity, high concentration of salts, and boron among others. However, oregano plants are associated with microorganisms that mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses present in this site. In this work, the S57 strain (member of the Pseudomonas genus that is closely related to Pseudomonas lini) was isolated from roots of oregano plants, which are grown in soils with high content of non-sodium salts and aluminum. This bacterium stimulates the growth of Micro-Tom tomato plants irrigated with saline-boric water. Moreover, it controls the growth of phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea and the nematode Meloidogyne incognita under saline-boric conditions. Together with the high levels of bacterial biomass (~47 g/L), these results allow the establishment of the bases for developing a potential new agricultural bioproduct useful for arid and semiarid environments where commercial biological products show erratic behavior.
Highlights
IntroductionUnder the extreme conditions of this zone, plant-associated bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining the proper functioning of plants [8]
Socoroma Valley (18◦ 150 3700 S, 69◦ 360 2400 W)is located at the Andean pre-mountain range of the Arica and the Parinacota Region at3070 m.a.s.l. in the Commune of Putre in the extreme north of the Atacama Desert, Chile [1].This valley is characterized by the cultivation of oregano [2], which possesses unique organoleptic properties, possesses geographical indication distinction and granted the seal of origin by the National Institute of Intellectual Property, INAPI, Chile [3]
These bacteria are known as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and correspond to a free-living soil bacteria with the ability to colonize the rhizosphere and roots, which promotes the growth through the release of metabolites that act directly in plants [9] including the production of phytohormones, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberelins, and cytokinins [10,11]; and the fixation of elemental nitrogen [12]
Summary
Under the extreme conditions of this zone, plant-associated bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining the proper functioning of plants [8] These bacteria are known as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and correspond to a free-living soil bacteria with the ability to colonize the rhizosphere and roots, which promotes the growth through the release of metabolites that act directly in plants [9] including the production of phytohormones, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberelins, and cytokinins [10,11]; and the fixation of elemental nitrogen [12]. The solubilization of minerals occur, such as inorganic phosphate and iron [13,14], and the biological control of phytopathogenic organisms through the production of inhibitory compounds and hydrolytic enzymes occur [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
