Affiliations 

  • 1 Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh
  • 2 Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 3 Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
PLoS One, 2021;16(12):e0260869.
PMID: 34898612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260869

Abstract

Soil salinity exert negative impacts on agricultural production and regarded as a crucial issue in global wetland rice production (Oryza sativa L.). Indigenous salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (Bacillus sp.) could be used for improving rice productivity under salinity stress. This study screened potential salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) collected from coastal salt-affected rice cultivation areas under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Furthermore, the impacts of these PGPRs were tested on biochemical attributes and nutrient contents in various rice varieties under salt stress. The two most promising PGPR strains, i.e., 'UPMRB9' (Bacillus tequilensis 10b) and 'UPMRE6' (Bacillus aryabhattai B8W22) were selected for glasshouse trial. Results indicated that 'UPMRB9' improved osmoprotectant properties, i.e., proline and total soluble sugar (TSS), antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT). Moreover, 'UPMRB9' inoculated rice plants accumulated higher amount of nitrogen and calcium in tissues. Therefore, the indigenous salt-tolerant PGPR strain 'UPMRB9' could be used as a potential bio-augmentor for improving biochemical attributes and nutrient uptake in rice plants under salinity stress. This study could serve as a preliminary basis for future large-scale trials under glasshouse and field conditions.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.