Bioprospecting for Rhizobacteria with the Ability to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Lessertia frutescens
-
Published:2023-12-18
Issue:24
Volume:24
Page:17585
-
ISSN:1422-0067
-
Container-title:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:IJMS
Author:
Hlongwane Mokgadi M.1ORCID, Dakora Felix D.1, Mohammed Mustapha2, Mokgalaka-Fleischmann Ntebogeng S.13ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa 2. Department of Crop Science, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL1882, Ghana 3. Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Abstract
Lessertia frutescens is a multipurpose medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa that is used for the management of cancer, stomach ulcers, wounds, etc. The use and demand for the raw materials from this plant have been increasing steadily over the years, putting strain on the dwindling wild populations. Although cultivation may provide relief to the strained supply, the persistent drought climate poses a threat to the plant’s growth and productivity. This study explored three plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolates, TUTLFNC33, TUTLFNC37 and TUTLFWC74, obtained from the root nodules of Lessertia frutescens as potential bioinoculants that can improve yield, biological activities and the production of secondary metabolites in the host plant. Isolate TUTLFNC37 was identified as the most promising isolate for inoculation of Lessertia frutescens under drought conditions as it induced drought tolerance through enhanced root proliferation, osmolyte proline accumulation and stomatal closure. Superior biomass yield, phenolics, triterpenes and antioxidant activity were evident in the extracts of Lessertia frutescens inoculated with TUTLFNC37 and under different levels of drought. Furthermore, the metabolomics of the plant extracts demonstrated the ability of the isolate to withstand drastic changes in the composition of unique metabolites, sutherlandiosides A–D and sutherlandins A–D. Molecular families which were never reported in the plant (peptides and glycerolipids) were detected and annotated in the molecular networks. Although drought had deleterious effects on Lessertia frutescens, isolate TUTLFNC37 alleviated the impact of the stress. Isolate TUTLFNC37 is therefore the most promising, environmentally friendly alternative to harmful chemicals such as nitrate-based fertilizers. The isolate should be studied to establish its field performance, cross infectivity with other medicinal plants and competition with inherent soil microbes.
Funder
The South African National Research Foundation
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis
Reference56 articles.
1. Rastogi, S., Shah, S., Kumar, R., Vashisth, D., Akhtar, M.Q., Kumar, A., Dwivedi, U.N., and Shasany, A.K. (2019). Ocimum metabolomics in response to abiotic stresses: Cold, flood, drought and salinity. PLoS ONE, 14. 2. The influence of water stress on plant height, herbal and essential oil yield and composition in Satureja hortensis L.;Baher;Flavour Fragr. J.,2002 3. Effect of Water Stress on Some Morphological and Biochemical Characteristics of Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum);Alishah;J. Biol. Sci.,2006 4. Antioxidant status of medicinal and aromatic plants under the influence of growth-promoting rhizobacteria and osmotic stress;Chiappero;Ind. Crops Prod.,2021 5. Effect of Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizal fungi inoculations on essential oil in Melissa officinalis L. under drought stress;Gorgi;Biologia,2022
|
|