It was successfully demonstrated in the present experiments
that protection of O. sanctum plants from waterlogging induced
damages can be achieved by inoculation of ACC deaminasecontaining
rhizobacteria. The data obtained clearly indicated that
the growth of both root and shoot and resultant yields could be
improved by inoculation of ACC deaminase-containing and plant
growth promoting rhizobacteria under waterlogging conditions. A
clear-cut reduction in stress ethylene levels was noticed in plants
challenged with PGPRs. The ACC deaminase trait of PGPRs could
therefore be employed as an efficient tool for reducing the waterlogging
induced yield losses by lowering stress ethylene levels,
altering biochemical changes with enhanced foliar nutrient uptake
and protecting the plants against oxidative stress created by
waterlogging conditions. It can be concluded from the data that the
complex and dynamic interactions among microorganisms, roots,
soil and water in the rhizosphere induce changes in physicochemical
and structural properties of the soil and under the
waterlogging condition of soil PGPRs can modulate plant growth
responses by producing certain compounds that can alter the
ethylene receptor stability or its functional concentration