Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Drought tolerant potassium solubilizing rhizobacteria Pseudomonas paralactis EU-BLRT-52 induce stress tolerance in maize plant under water deficit conditions
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Sharma Babita, Negi Rajeshwari, Jyothi Renuka, Gupta Anirudh, Yadav Ashok, Yadav Neelam, Singh Sangram, Yadav Ajar Nath
Research Articles | Published: 08 April, 2026
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Keywords: Alleviation, Climate change, Drought, Polyethylene glycol, Rhizobacteria
Abstract
All parts of the world, with their diverse environmental conditions, are being impacted by climate change. Particularly, extreme environmental conditions such as drought stress have a significant impact on crop productivity. Maize plants are negatively affected by increasing water deficit conditions due to decreased rainfall and changing climate conditions. Applying plant growth promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria to maize plants can reduces the detrimental impact of drought stress. In the current investigation, rhizobacteria were isolated from maize and screened for drought stress at different concentrations (7% and 8%) of polyethylene glycol (PEG-8000). The stress adaptive rhizobacteria were further screened for potassium (K) solubilization. After that selected drought tolerant K solubilizing strains were screened for other PGP attributes. The efficient isolate EU-BLRT-52 was characterized molecularly by using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and identified as Pseudomonas paralactis. The P. paralactis EU-BLRT-52 was used for maize growth promotion under water deficit and well-watered condition in two different sets under pot and field conditions. Results from a subsequent pot and field experiment indicated that the inoculation of P. paralactis significantly improved some growth and physiological parameters under both conditions. In pot experiment, root length and dry weight of plant inoculated with P. paralactis was improved significantly with respect to the chemical fertilizer and control. In case of field experiment, inoculation of P. paralactis significantly improved root length, fresh and dry weight, carotinoides, phenolics, flavonoides and total soluble sugar content as compared to the chemical fertilizer and control. Hence, K-solubilizing drought stress tolerant bacteria with multiple PGP attributes can be used as potential candidate for the alleviation of water stress.
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Author Information
Department of Microbiology, Akal College of Basic Sciences, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmaur, India