Influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on gas exchange and yield attributes in rice under drought conditions

Abstract

This study investigated whether the exogenous application of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) could alleviate the adverse effects of drought on rice (Shanyou 63). Yeast was sprayed on leaves at 10⁹ colony-forming units (cfu) ml^− 1 after drought every week. The drought period lasted 120 days. Under well-watered conditions, application of yeast significantly reduced net photosynthetic rate (A) and transpiration rate (E), together with a reduction in stomatal conductance (g_s) compared with the controls, and yeast did not inhibit plant growth. Under drought conditions, application of yeast increased E, but had no effect on A on days 30, 44, 58 and 72 compared with the drought without yeast. Under drought conditions, yeast application increased the seed set rate, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, harvest index and grain: straw compared with the drought without yeast. Yeast did not have a significantly promotive effect on WUE_leaf (A/E) under either well-watered or drought conditions. Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) values were significantly influenced by yeast. The greatest IWUE was observed in yeast treatment under drought conditions (3.1 mg g^− 1). This study indicated that yeast can alleviate the negative effects of drought stress by improving some photosynthetic attributes and yield in rice.

Keywords::

• biotechnology
• photosynthesis
• stress
• water deficit

Notes

These authors contributed equally to this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financed by Ministry of Science and Technology of China [grant number 2011AA100503], Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number LZ13C030002] and Natural Science Fund of China [grant number 30871470].