Azospirillum brasilense ameliorates the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to drought mainly via enhancement of ABA levels

COHEN A C; BOTTINI R; PONTIN M; BERLI F; MORENO D; BOCCALANDRO H; TRAVAGLIA C; PICCOLI P

PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 vol. 153 p. 79 - 90

0031-9317

Production of phytohormones is one of the main mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), like Azospirillum sp. The PGPRs induce plant growth and development and they reduce stress susceptibility. However, little is known regarding the stress related phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) produced by bacteria. We investigated the effects of Azospirillum brasilense Sp 245 strain on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 and aba2-1 mutant plants, evaluating the morpho-physiological and biochemical responses when watered and in drought. We used an in vitro grown system to study changes in the root volume and architecture after inoculation with Azospirillum in Arabidopsis wild type Col-0 and on the mutant aba2-1, during early growth. To examine Arabidopsis development and reproductive success as affected by the bacteria, ABA and drought, a pot experiment using Arabidopsis Col-0 plants was also carried out. A. brasilense augmented plant biomass, altered root architecture by increasing lateral roots number, stimulated photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments and retarded water loss in correlation with incremented ABA levels. As well, inoculation improved plants seed yield, plants survival, proline levels, and relative leaf water content; it also decreased stomatal conductance, malondialdehyde and relative soil water content in plants submitted to drought. Arabidopsis inoculation with A. brasilense improved plants performance, especially in drought.