Influence of Rhizophagus spp. and Burkholderia seminalis on the Growth of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculatum) and Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) under Drought Stress

ABSTRACT

Beneficial interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM Fungi) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have an important role in keeping agriculture sustainable. The present study reports the positive effects of AM fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices, Rhizophagus fasciculatum), Burkholderia seminalis and dual inoculation of these two strains on growth of Lycopersicon esculatum and Capsicum annuum plant under drought stress conditions. Each treatment was replicated six times and was arranged in a complete randomized block design. A significant increase in terms of biomass, root length, shoot length, and chlorophyll content was observed with the plants inoculated with these beneficial microorganisms. Accumulation of proline was found to be less in AM fungi inoculated plants suggesting the role of it in mitigating the water stress. A positive correlation between % colonization and chlorophyll content, root length, catalase activity, and guaiacol peroxidase has been observed depicting the importance of the AM fungi in drought tolerance.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidant activity
• Burkholderia seminalis
• drought
• proline accumulation
• Rhizophagus fasiculatum
• Rhizophagus intraradices

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jain University, Bangalore, for providing the laboratory facilities.

Funding

The authors thank the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India, SERB, for financial support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India, SERB, for financial support.