A B S T R A C T
Three bacterial autochthonous strains, namely Enterobacter sp.; Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus sp. were
isolated from the rhizosphere of Mediterranean shrub species growing in a semiarid environment and
analyzed alongside with the allochthonous Bacillus megaterium, used as reference droughttolerant strain,
for their drought tolerance and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) capacities. The preliminary
studies, done in axenic culture under non-stress and stress conditions show that Enterobacter sp. resulted
in the most tolerant bacteria to osmotic stress factors. In contrast, Bacillus sp. was the most sensitive
bacteria to osmotic stress factors and concomitantly, under these conditions, produced the highest
amounts of ACC deaminase, poly-b-hydroxybutyrate and proline, to compensate its lack of stress
tolerance. The PGPR activities of the tested bacterial strains under non-osmotic and osmotic stress
conditions were determined by evaluating hormone (SA, ABA, JA and IAA) and ACC-deaminase
production and phosphate solubilization. To analyze the bacterial efficiency as inoculants four shrubs
species (Thymus vulgaris, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Lavandula dentata and Salvia officinalis), adapted to
aridity, were selected. All the tested bacteria improved nutrition and physiological variables related to
drought tolerance of the test plant. In addition, in S. chamaecyparissus and S. officinalis also increased
mycorrhizal colonization. The application of fermented agrowaste resulted in effectively improving
nutrient uptake and also interacted positively with most of the bacteria increasing plant nutrients
content and drought tolerance but their effectiveness depended on the plant species and bacteria
involved. In fact, in B. megaterium and the fermented agrowaste increased P and K uptake in S.
chamaecyparissus (by 109% P and by 66% K), in L. dentata (by 75% P and 33% K) and in S. officinalis (by 63% P
and 52% K). However, without amendment, the native B. thuringiensis was the most efficient strain in
increasing P content in T. vulgaris (by 51%) and in S. chamaecyparissus (by 11%), and K content in L. dentata
(by 63%), which decreased the stomatal conductance. Results show that under axenic conditions the
stress applied did not suppress the PGPR abilities of assayed bacteria which indicated their potential to be
tested as inoculants under detrimental conditions. The applied treatments resulted fundamental for
these shrubs to reach their optimal nutritional and physiological traits suggesting their possible
applicability under the natural semiarid drought conditions. The multiplicity and complexity of bacterial
activities and the intrinsic characteristics of plant reactions to drought could explain the unpredictable
results obtained by using these bacteria as plant inoculants. These and other factors are controlling the
PGPR effects therefore it made difficult to generalize and to explain the cause/effect of the variable
responses to be obtained. The results suggest the potentiality of the target bacteria and ferment
A B S T R A C TThree bacterial autochthonous strains, namely Enterobacter sp.; Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus sp. wereisolated from the rhizosphere of Mediterranean shrub species growing in a semiarid environment andanalyzed alongside with the allochthonous Bacillus megaterium, used as reference droughttolerant strain,for their drought tolerance and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) capacities. The preliminarystudies, done in axenic culture under non-stress and stress conditions show that Enterobacter sp. resultedin the most tolerant bacteria to osmotic stress factors. In contrast, Bacillus sp. was the most sensitivebacteria to osmotic stress factors and concomitantly, under these conditions, produced the highestamounts of ACC deaminase, poly-b-hydroxybutyrate and proline, to compensate its lack of stresstolerance. The PGPR activities of the tested bacterial strains under non-osmotic and osmotic stressconditions were determined by evaluating hormone (SA, ABA, JA and IAA) and ACC-deaminaseproduction and phosphate solubilization. To analyze the bacterial efficiency as inoculants four shrubsspecies (Thymus vulgaris, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Lavandula dentata and Salvia officinalis), adapted toaridity, were selected. All the tested bacteria improved nutrition and physiological variables related todrought tolerance of the test plant. In addition, in S. chamaecyparissus and S. officinalis also increasedmycorrhizal colonization. The application of fermented agrowaste resulted in effectively improvingnutrient uptake and also interacted positively with most of the bacteria increasing plant nutrientscontent and drought tolerance but their effectiveness depended on the plant species and bacteriainvolved. In fact, in B. megaterium and the fermented agrowaste increased P and K uptake in S.chamaecyparissus (by 109% P and by 66% K), in L. dentata (by 75% P and 33% K) and in S. officinalis (by 63% Pand 52% K). However, without amendment, the native B. thuringiensis was the most efficient strain inincreasing P content in T. vulgaris (by 51%) and in S. chamaecyparissus (by 11%), and K content in L. dentata(by 63%), which decreased the stomatal conductance. Results show that under axenic conditions thestress applied did not suppress the PGPR abilities of assayed bacteria which indicated their potential to betested as inoculants under detrimental conditions. The applied treatments resulted fundamental forthese shrubs to reach their optimal nutritional and physiological traits suggesting their possibleapplicability under the natural semiarid drought conditions. The multiplicity and complexity of bacterialactivities and the intrinsic characteristics of plant reactions to drought could explain the unpredictableresults obtained by using these bacteria as plant inoculants. These and other factors are controlling thePGPR effects therefore it made difficult to generalize and to explain the cause/effect of the variableresponses to be obtained. The results suggest the potentiality of the target bacteria and ferment
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