Since ROS produced by the stress situation are removed by
several enzymatic systems, it is clear whether the enhancement of
these activities in cells correlated with the stress severity
(Koussevitzky et al., 2008). APX is the key antioxidant enzyme
in the ascorbate/glutathione cycle (Orvar and Ellis, 1997).
Enzymatic systems resulted here sensitive and indicative of the
bacterial effectiveness in supporting drought impact in the
stressed cells. The lowering in these activities in bacterial cells
under water stress may be interpreted as a higher water retention
and subsequent increased drought stress tolerance