ENDOPHYTES FROM DESERT PLANTS ALLEVIATE WATER STRESS IN PEPPER

摘要

The work presents evidences that two ACC-deaminase endophytes are able to sustain plant growth during drought by increasing root biomass, maintaining high photosynthesis values and leaf water potentials both in a hydroponic and soil system. For the first time the beneficial effect microbe-mediated is linked to the enhancement of the expression of the vacuolar H+ PPase, a plant adaptative mechanism adopted under stress conditions. There are several indications that El and E3 promote plant growth by more than a few mechanisms but influence on hormone homeostasis might be the main driver of endophytes beneficial effect on plant. In this context VOCs release, auxin synthesis and ACC deaminase activity could contribute to decrease ethylene levels produced by the plant under drought stress.