Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abstract

Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Isolated From a Mexican Natural Ecosystem Induce Water Stress Resistance in Maize and Sorghum Plants

Juan G. Colli Mull, Gustavo A. de la Riva de la Riva, Coczy D. Vargas- Sámano, Gisselle Pérez- Machado and Guillermin Agüero- Chapin

The negative environmental impact due to the excessive use of chemical products on agricultural crops is mitigated by using plant growth-promoting microorganisms, including bacteria and beneficial fungi associated to plant roots. Microorganisms could play a significant role in this respect due to their genetic diversity, ubiquity, interaction with crop plants and properties of tolerance to extremities. Therefore the microbial biodiversity and its effect on soil quality; soil nutrient cycling; plant growth promotion is considered a hub of attention for bio prospection studies as an alternative to favor sustainable agriculture. The biodiversity of bacteria were deciphered from different sites in “Sierra Gorda” highlands, considered Reserve of Biosphere, in the download region of Central Mexico, known as Bajío. Culturable bacteria were isolated from soil rhizosphere samples and biochemically characterized due their indole-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, as well as siderophore and polyhydroxybutyrate productions, cellulase and chitinase activity and phosphate mobilization. Bacteria were identified by the amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and BLAST analysis. Three strains, Pseudomonas variovencis XiU1297 and Luteibacter sp. XiU1292, Acinetobacter inoffii XiU12138 were selected to test their effects on the growth of Maize and Sorghum under water stress at greenhouse conditions. The results show differential growth promotion effect of those bacteria in maize and sorghum. The bacteria were selected to conform a consortium suitable to use in agriculture as biofertilizer.