Improved Zea mays L production using heat resistant, drought tolerating ACC deaminase producer Bacillus subtilis
摘要
Screening of heat tolerant bacterial species for 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC deaminase) and exopolysaccharides producing potential was demonstrated, which help to reduce drought stress in crop plants. Among the screened isolates, Bacillus subtilis SV1 was found to be a heat-resistant bacterium with the ability to confer drought tolerance in plants and enhance plant growth in the specific instance of Zea mays (maize). The enhancement in crop productivity is attributed to the unique potential of Bacillus subtilis SV1 to produce ACC deaminase and exopolysaccharides. The isolate demonstrated the ability not only to grow at elevated temperatures (40–50 °C) but also under artificially created higher osmotic pressures, with significant production of ACC deaminase, which significantly enhanced germination and plant height by 25.25% while crop yield by 29.65%. Bacillus subtilis SV1 is thus a promising candidate for the preparation of bioinoculants used in drought prone areas to enhance crop yields.