title: Azospirillum brasilense ameliorates the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to drought mainly via enhancement of ABA levels.
abstract: Production of phytohormones is one of the main mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Azospirillum sp. The PGPRs induce plant growth and development, and reduce stress susceptibility. However, little is known regarding the stress-related phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) produced by bacteria. We investigated the effects of Azospirillum brasilense Sp 245 strain on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 and aba2-1 mutant plants, evaluating the morphophysiological and biochemical responses when watered and in drought. We used an in vitro-grown system to study changes in the root volume and architecture after inoculation with Azospirillum in Arabidopsis wild-type Col-0 and on the mutant aba2-1, during early growth. To examine Arabidopsis development and reproductive success as affected by the bacteria, ABA and drought, a pot experiment using Arabidopsis Col-0 plants was also carried out. Azospirillum brasilense augmented plant biomass, altered root architecture by increasing lateral roots number, stimulated photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments and retarded water loss in correlation with incremented ABA levels. As well, inoculation improved plants seed yield, plants survival, proline levels and relative leaf water content; it also decreased stomatal conductance, malondialdehyde and relative soil water content in plants submitted to drought. Arabidopsis inoculation with A. brasilense improved plants performance, especially in drought.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Bioquímica Vegetal, Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Almirante Brown 500, M5528AHB, Chacras de Coria, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pontin
authors.forename: Federico J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Berli
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Hernán
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boccanlandro
authors.forename: Claudia N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Travaglia
authors.forename: Patricia N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Piccoli
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015806:Azospirillum brasilense / Q000502:physiology*; D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000040:Abscisic Acid; D011392:Proline