Scholarlink

<p>Endophytic <i>Bacillus</i> species are known to improve legume symbiosis and plant performance through an array of mechanisms. This study evaluated the potential of endophytic <i>Bacillus</i> strains (<i>B. firmus, B. subtilis, and B. tequilensis</i>) to promote growth and productivity of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L) grown under rainfed conditions. Among the <i>Bacillus</i> strains evaluated for in vitro plant growth-promoting traits, <i>B. firmus</i> exhibited the highest potential for phosphate solubilization (pH drop to 5.0) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (28.9 PPM). Seed biopriming with&#xa0;<i>Bacillus</i>&#xa0;strains enhanced antioxidant accumulation in chickpea seedlings, with&#xa0;<i>B. subtilis</i>&#xa0;markedly boosting key antioxidant enzymes, while&#xa0;<i>B. tequilensis</i>&#xa0;and&#xa0;<i>B. firmus</i>&#xa0;exerted distinct tissue-specific effects, as revealed by principal component analysis (PCA). At the critical threshold of 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), which inhibit chickpea seed germination, <i>B. firmus</i> and <i>B. tequilensis</i> maintained viability and biopriming chickpea seeds with these strains restored germination (25% and 41.7%, respectively), whereas UnInoculated and <i>B. subtilis</i> bioprimed seeds failed to germinate. In a controlled pot study, <i>B. firmus</i> inoculation enhanced chickpea biomass, increasing root and shoot growth by 37.4% and 27.7%, respectively, over the UnInoculated control. Field study showed that co-inoculation of <i>B. firmus</i> with <i>Mesorhizobium ciceri</i> enhanced leghemoglobin content (79.6%), nodule biomass (69.0%), nutrient uptake (N: 13.8%, P: 20.3%), plant biomass (14%) and seed yield (8%) over the absolute control. Ordination analysis clearly indicated that co-inoculation of <i>M. ciceri</i> with <i>B. firmus</i> had the strongest effect on chickpea performance under field conditions. Our findings establish <i>B. firmus</i> as a promising bioinoculant for improving chickpea productivity under rainfed conditions.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Endophytic Bacillus strains enhance chickpea growth and performance under controlled and field conditions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月4日

查看全文
  • N. S. Nysanth,
  • Vandana Yadav,
  • Shubham Gambhir,
  • Vijay Pooniya,
  • D. Sagar,
  • Achal Lama,
  • K. K. Pal,
  • K. Swarnalakshmi

摘要

Endophytic Bacillus species are known to improve legume symbiosis and plant performance through an array of mechanisms. This study evaluated the potential of endophytic Bacillus strains (B. firmus, B. subtilis, and B. tequilensis) to promote growth and productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) grown under rainfed conditions. Among the Bacillus strains evaluated for in vitro plant growth-promoting traits, B. firmus exhibited the highest potential for phosphate solubilization (pH drop to 5.0) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (28.9 PPM). Seed biopriming with Bacillus strains enhanced antioxidant accumulation in chickpea seedlings, with B. subtilis markedly boosting key antioxidant enzymes, while B. tequilensis and B. firmus exerted distinct tissue-specific effects, as revealed by principal component analysis (PCA). At the critical threshold of 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), which inhibit chickpea seed germination, B. firmus and B. tequilensis maintained viability and biopriming chickpea seeds with these strains restored germination (25% and 41.7%, respectively), whereas UnInoculated and B. subtilis bioprimed seeds failed to germinate. In a controlled pot study, B. firmus inoculation enhanced chickpea biomass, increasing root and shoot growth by 37.4% and 27.7%, respectively, over the UnInoculated control. Field study showed that co-inoculation of B. firmus with Mesorhizobium ciceri enhanced leghemoglobin content (79.6%), nodule biomass (69.0%), nutrient uptake (N: 13.8%, P: 20.3%), plant biomass (14%) and seed yield (8%) over the absolute control. Ordination analysis clearly indicated that co-inoculation of M. ciceri with B. firmus had the strongest effect on chickpea performance under field conditions. Our findings establish B. firmus as a promising bioinoculant for improving chickpea productivity under rainfed conditions.