Assessment of plant growth promoting activities and abiotic stress tolerance of Azotobacter chroococcum strains for a potential use in sustainable agriculture

S Viscardi; V Ventorino; P. Duran; A Maggio; S De Pascale; M.L Mora; O Pepe

Abstract

This study aimed to select and characterize bacterial strains with multiple plant growth promotion properties able to tolerate drought and salinity stress in order to improve plant growth performance under abiotic stresses. Plant growth promoting activities were evaluated in 106 bacterial strains isolated by soil, compost, lignocellulosic biomasses and food matrices. Two strains A. chroococcum 67B and 76A were selected for their multiple plant growth promotion activities (N2-fixing activity, synthesis of siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid) as well as antimicrobial activity against Sclerotinia minor. Moreover, the selected strains were tested for their tolerance to drought and salinity stress in in vitro experiments evaluating their growth, production of SOD, CAT, proline and ACC deaminase. The two Azotobacter chroococcum strains exhibited high tolerance to salt and drought stresses and could alleviate the negative effects exerted by abiotic stress on tomato plants. Overall results showed that the strains Azotobacter chroococcum 67B and Azotobacter chroococcum 76A could be interesting candidates to be employed as bio-effector in sustainable agricultural systems also under stressful conditions leading to improved economic and environmental benefits.

Más información

Título según WOS: Assessment of plant growth promoting activities and abiotic stress tolerance of Azotobacter chroococcum strains for a potential use in sustainable agriculture
Título según SCOPUS: Assessment of plant growth promoting activities and abiotic stress tolerance of Azotobacter chroococcum strains for a potential use in sustainable agriculture
Título según SCIELO: Assessment of plant growth promoting activities and abiotic stress tolerance of Azotobacter chroococcum strains for a potential use in sustainable agriculture
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
Volumen: 16
Número: 3
Editorial: SOC CHILENA CIENCIA SUELO
Fecha de publicación: 2016
Página de inicio: 848
Página final: 863
Idioma: en
DOI:

10.4067/S0718-95162016005000060

Notas: ISI, SCIELO, SCOPUS