Biofilmed-PGPR: Next-Generation Bioinoculant for Plant Growth Promotion in Rice under Changing Climate

doi:10.1016/j.rsci.2024.08.008

Abstract

Abstract:

The exopolysaccharide matrix of diazotrophic cyanobacteria was used to integrate phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) solubilizing bacteria, enhancing the survival of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and ultimately the survival of bacteria in the rhizosphere for better plant growth. A new biofilm-based formulation comprising the diazotrophic cyanobacteria Anabaena AMP2, P-solubilizing Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum PB1, and K-solubilizing Rhizobium pusense KRBKKM1 was tested for efficacy in rice. The growth medium with half-strength BG-11 medium supplemented with 3% glucose showed best for biofilm formation under in vitro conditions. Analysis of the methanolic extract of the cyanobacterial- bacterial biofilm (CBB) showed the activity of antioxidants, such as 2-methoxy phenol and pentadecane, which are proven to improve plant-microbe interactions and plant growth, respectively. Treatment of rice seeds with CBB extract at 100 mL/kg or 200 mL/kg showed significant enhancement in germination rate and seedling length. Therefore, a pot culture experiment with the CBB formulations was carried out, and different growth and yield parameters were recorded. Principal component analysis showed that plant growth, yield, soil dehydrogenase activity, and soil chlorophyll content were positively correlated with rice plants amended with vermiculite-based CBB at 2 kg/hm²followed by a spray with aqueous CBB formulation at 5 mL/L at 15 and 30 d after rice transplanting grown with a 25% reduced level of nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium chemical fertilizers than the recommended dose. Further, Pearson correlation analysis showed that yield was positively correlated with soil dehydrogenase (r = 0.92**) and soil chlorophyll content (r = 0.96**). We concluded that CBB could be used as a novel biofilm-based bio-inoculant to increase rice productivity and crop fitness as a component in integrated nutrient management and sustainable organic farming strategies with reduced chemical fertilizers.

Key words: cyanobacterial bacterial biofilm formulation, rice, volatile compound, plant growth promotion, reduced fertilizer level

Jeberlin Prabina Bright, Hemant S. Maheshwari, Sugitha Thangappan, Kahkashan Perveen, Najat A. Bukhari, Debasis Mitra, Riyaz Sayyed, Andrea Mastinu. Biofilmed-PGPR: Next-Generation Bioinoculant for Plant Growth Promotion in Rice under Changing Climate[J]. Rice Science, 2025, 32(1): 94-106.

Figures/Tables 7

References 73

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Cyanobacterial isolate	Exopolysaccharide production (mg/mL)	Chlorophyll content (mg/g)	Nitrogenase activity (nmol/mg)
AMP1	84.46 ± 0.57 b	10.34 ± 0.13 de	4.24 ± 0.03 b
AMP2	92.67 ± 0.04 a	14.68 ± 0.02 a	5.49 ± 0.03 a
ARP3	64.41 ± 1.04 g	11.06 ± 0.06 c	3.38 ± 0.28 c
ATP4	75.52 ± 0.44 d	10.07 ± 0.04 e	4.06 ± 0.03 b
NMP1	70.59 ± 1.14 ef	9.34 ± 0.10 f	3.50 ± 0.13 c
NRP2	80.36 ± 0.17 c	10.71 ± 0.31 cd	4.02 ± 0.01 b
NTP1	71.72 ± 0.74 e	12.07 ± 0.04 b	4.12 ± 0.02 b
NTP2	81.22 ± 0.89 c	11.81 ± 0.16 b	3.21 ± 0.12 cd
SMP1	69.78 ± 1.25 f	9.52 ± 0.34 f	2.87 ± 0.19 e
SMP2	65.88 ± 0.63 g	10.34 ± 0.26 de	3.02 ± 0.11 de
F value	383.85	219.61	108.86
P value	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001

Cyanobacterial isolate	Exopolysaccharide production (mg/mL)	Chlorophyll content (mg/g)	Nitrogenase activity (nmol/mg)
AMP1	84.46 ± 0.57 b	10.34 ± 0.13 de	4.24 ± 0.03 b
AMP2	92.67 ± 0.04 a	14.68 ± 0.02 a	5.49 ± 0.03 a
ARP3	64.41 ± 1.04 g	11.06 ± 0.06 c	3.38 ± 0.28 c
ATP4	75.52 ± 0.44 d	10.07 ± 0.04 e	4.06 ± 0.03 b
NMP1	70.59 ± 1.14 ef	9.34 ± 0.10 f	3.50 ± 0.13 c
NRP2	80.36 ± 0.17 c	10.71 ± 0.31 cd	4.02 ± 0.01 b
NTP1	71.72 ± 0.74 e	12.07 ± 0.04 b	4.12 ± 0.02 b
NTP2	81.22 ± 0.89 c	11.81 ± 0.16 b	3.21 ± 0.12 cd
SMP1	69.78 ± 1.25 f	9.52 ± 0.34 f	2.87 ± 0.19 e
SMP2	65.88 ± 0.63 g	10.34 ± 0.26 de	3.02 ± 0.11 de
F value	383.85	219.61	108.86
P value	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001

Treatment	Plant height (cm)
Treatment	Tillering stage	Panicle initiation	Flowering stage	Heading stage
T1	42.47 ± 1.66 a	70.87 ± 5.27 a	77.00 ± 3.45 b	90.27 ± 0.59 b
T2	43.97 ± 1.63 a	69.97 ± 2.86 a	92.73 ± 2.44 a	96.60 ± 1.24 b
T3	37.00 ± 1.82 a	74.70 ± 3.91 a	81.70 ± 0.92 ab	96.87 ± 1.27 b
T4	44.80 ± 2.04 a	77.73 ± 1.30 a	79.41 ± 0.09 ab	95.97 ± 1.52 b
T5	40.87 ± 1.86 a	70.30 ± 1.62 a	82.73 ± 2.19 ab	93.03 ± 2.89 b
T6	41.40 ± 3.91 a	73.10 ± 2.51 a	84.60 ± 2.93 ab	104.73 ± 1.12 a
Average	41.75 ± 1.0	72.78 ± 1.29	83.03 ± 1.44	96.24 ± 1.21
F value (df = 5, 12)	1.448	0.894	5.535	9.224
P value (< 0.01)	0.277	0.515	0.007	< 0.001

Treatment	Plant height (cm)
Treatment	Tillering stage	Panicle initiation	Flowering stage	Heading stage
T1	42.47 ± 1.66 a	70.87 ± 5.27 a	77.00 ± 3.45 b	90.27 ± 0.59 b
T2	43.97 ± 1.63 a	69.97 ± 2.86 a	92.73 ± 2.44 a	96.60 ± 1.24 b
T3	37.00 ± 1.82 a	74.70 ± 3.91 a	81.70 ± 0.92 ab	96.87 ± 1.27 b
T4	44.80 ± 2.04 a	77.73 ± 1.30 a	79.41 ± 0.09 ab	95.97 ± 1.52 b
T5	40.87 ± 1.86 a	70.30 ± 1.62 a	82.73 ± 2.19 ab	93.03 ± 2.89 b
T6	41.40 ± 3.91 a	73.10 ± 2.51 a	84.60 ± 2.93 ab	104.73 ± 1.12 a
Average	41.75 ± 1.0	72.78 ± 1.29	83.03 ± 1.44	96.24 ± 1.21
F value (df = 5, 12)	1.448	0.894	5.535	9.224
P value (< 0.01)	0.277	0.515	0.007	< 0.001

Treatment	Panicle length (cm)	1000-grain weight (g)	No. of grains per panicle	Grain yield (kg/hm²)
T1	22.97 ± 0.86 b	23.97 ± 0.98 a	154.33 ± 6.06 b	6133.33 ± 60.09 c (122.67)
T2	27.03 ± 0.32 a	24.10 ± 1.16 a	175.67 ± 4.91 a	6216.67 ± 33.33 bc (124.00)
T3	25.33 ± 0.84 ab	21.43 ± 0.30 a	165.33 ± 3.67 ab	6383.33 ± 44.10 bc (127.67)
T4	27.10 ± 0.31 a	25.10 ± 1.10 a	177.00 ± 5.13 a	6516.67 ± 109.29 ab (130.00)
T5	24.17 ± 0.92 ab	24.20 ± 1.27 a	168.67 ± 3.28 ab	6250.00 ± 76.38 bc (125.00)
T6	23.77 ± 0.58 b	25.30 ± 0.57 a	182.67 ± 2.03 a	6770.00 ± 90.74 a (135.40)
Average	25.06 ± 0.45	24.02 ± 0.45	170.61 ± 2.69	6378.33 ± 57.78 (127.57)
F value (df = 5, 12)	6.348	2.063	5.279	10.106
P value (< 0.01)	0.004	0.141	0.009	< 0.001