Noshin Ilyas

Azospirillum strains isolated from roots and rhizosphere soil of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) grown under different soil moisture conditions

The present study deals with the isolation and characterization of Azospirillum strains isolated from roots and rhizosphere soil of wheat (at tillering and anthesis stages) plants grown under different moisture regimes in the field and in pots. The survival of Azospirillum isolates from plants of irrigated field and those from well-watered pots was higher than that of Azospirillum strains isolated from roots and rhizosphere soils of plants grown under arid and semiarid (14–8% soil moisture) field conditions and under water-stressed (8% soil moisture) conditions in pots. On the basis of carbon/nitrogen source utilization, the Azospirillum strains isolated from wheat under field and pot conditions were grouped in three groups. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means cluster analysis based on random amplification of polymorphic DNA showed that two groups of Azospirillum were similar. The strains isolated from plants (at tillering stage) grown under low moisture conditions either in pots or in field were genetically similar to strains isolated from plants grown under well-watered conditions in both pots and field. Inoculation of wheat with isolates from water-stressed plants induced tolerance to water stress in inoculated plants. Isolates from water-stressed conditions exhibited lower production of indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid, and trans zeatin riboside but a higher production of abscisic acid.

Drought mitigation potential of Azospirillum inoculation in Canola ( Brassica napus )

Azospirillum is considered to be a most effective Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), which is responsible for various modifications in plants to cope with stress conditions. Therefore, the present research was planned to evaluate the effect of Azospirillum lipoferum (GQ 255949) inoculation on growth, biochemical, yield attributes of canola grown under drought conditions. Two different modes of inoculation were used; i.e., inoculation of seeds directly and exposure of planted seed in the rhizosphere. Drought stress was imposed at flowering stage. Azospirillum seed inoculation was helped mitigate stress effects by improving germination percentage up to 12.49%. Root area was increased up to 18.5% and 11.38% with seed and rhizosphere inoculation in drought stress respectively. Chlorophyll contents and water potential were increased 12.21%, and 11.0% in seeds inoculated under drought conditions. Superoxide dismutase activity was decrease up to 24.6% and 12.5% in seed and rhizosphere inoculated plants under well watered conditions. Seed inoculation was most effective, as number of seeds per pod and seed weight per plant was significantly increased up to 25%, and 14.28% as compared to the control. In conclusion, Azospirillum can mitigate deleterious effects of drought stress in canola under water deficiency conditions.

Potential Use of Soil Microbial Community in Agriculture

Microbes can be exploited as low input technology for sustainable crop production and ecosystem conservation. About 2/3rd of the cultured population constitute plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) which exhibit both direct and indirect mechanism of plant growth stimulation and are implicated in the bioremediation and biocontrol. This chapter highlights the diversity of microorganism based on their ecological distribution, physiology/morphology and functioning. The survival efficiency of a microorganism with its host plants depends on the type and age of the plants. The amount and composition of root exudates are modulated by edaphic and environmental factor.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Shoot in Stress Tolerant Wheat Varieties on Copper Nanoparticle Exposure

Copper nanoparticles have enhanced the germination and wheat development. To explain the effects of copper nanoparticles on shoot of Pakistan-13 and NARC-11, proteomic technique was used. The physiological responses such as weights/lengths of seedling, shoot, and root of wheat varieties were increased on 10-ppm copper nanoparticle exposure. The number of proteins related to protein metabolism was increased in Pakistan-13 while protein metabolism and photosynthesis-related proteins were increased in NARC-11, treated with copper nanoparticles compared to untreated plants. Abundance of proteins related to glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle was increased on copper nanoparticle exposure in Pakistan-13 and NARC-11. However, the abundance of proteins related to photosynthesis and tetrapyrole synthesis was decreased on copper nanoparticle exposure in Pakistan-13 and NARC-11. Chlorophyll content such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll was decreased on copper nanoparticle exposure in Pakistan-13 and NARC-11. The rate of photosynthesis and carbon assimilation decreased on copper nanoparticle exposure. These results suggest that copper nanoparticles mend the seedling growth of wheat, which might be concomitant with the enhancement of protein abundance related to glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle in wheat varieties.

Application of biochar in mitigation of negative effects of salinity stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

ABSTRACT Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects crop production throughout the world. Biochar is an activated carbon soil conditioner that can alleviate the negative impacts of salinity. The research was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effect of 1% and 2% of biochar application on wheat seed germination and growth attributes under salinity. Both levels of biochar improved the germination and growth conditions under salinity; however, 2% biochar level was more effective compared to 1% level. Root and shoot length increased up to 23% and11% with 2% biochar, respectively. The maximum increase of 16% and 10% in leaf water potential and osmotic potential was noted with 2% biochar at 150 mM salt. The decrease in proline content and soluble sugar at 2% biochar was 51% and 27%, respectively. Decrease in superoxide dismutase activity was 15.3% at 2% level of biochar under stress biochar mitigates the negative effects of salinity and improved wheat productivity.

Contribution of Nitrogen Fixed by Mung Bean to the Following Wheat Crop

ABSTRACT Crop rotation is a supportive management practice in which legumes greatly improve the growth and yield of subsequent cereal crops, particularly wheat. In this study, effects of mung bean (Vigna radiata) on the yield and quality of grains of following wheat crop were determined. An experiment was carried out with two sets of wheat (Triticum aestivum) crops: one grown following mung bean (Vigna radiata) crop and the other grown after a fallow period. Concentrations of macronutrients, sugar, protein, amino acids, and phytohormones of wheat were determined. The grain protein concentration of wheat was improved if cultivated after mung bean, and nitrogen and other macronutrients of wheat were increased significantly. In case of phytohormone contents in the wheat crop, abscisic acid concentration showed no change, but the concentrations of gibberellin increased significantly by 41% and indole acetic acid by 30% as a result of crop rotation. Sugar content in wheat cultivated after mung bean BRM-318 showed 10% increase and wheat protein content increased by 17% and 20%, respectively. The present study demonstrated that crop rotation simulated yield and improved the nutritional value of wheat grain compared to wheat which followed the fallow period.

Smoke produced from plants waste material elicits growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by improving morphological, physiological and biochemical activity

Highlights • Smoke produced from plants waste material is more efficient, cost effective, vegetative growth promoter, inexpensive, rapid and most appropriate eco-friendly bio-fertilizer in sustainable agriculture.• Plant derived smoke was generated by burning of plant material (leaf, straws etc) in a specially designed furnace.• Four level of plant derived smoke (1 h, 2 h, 3 h & 4 h) along with control were tested on four wheat cultivars in CRD repeated pot experiment.• Plant derived smoke exposure applied for short time i.e. 1 h & 2 h induced significant results as compared to prolonged PDS exposure.

Amelioration of drought stress in wheat by combined application of PGPR, compost, and mineral fertilizer

ABSTRACT Among various abiotic stresses, global drought reduces global growth and yield of wheat. Present research has been designed to ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on wheat by combined application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), compost, and mineral fertilizers. In this experiment, the role of fertilizer, compost, and PGPR inoculation to ameliorate drought stress was studied in two wheat varieties at vegetative stage. Water stress adversely affects morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of the wheat plant. Inoculated seed with compost and mineral fertilizer grown in drought condition showed 43% increase in relative water content (RWC) of 9.39% in Membrane Stability Index and 82.20% in chlorophyll as compared to control. Drought affected the accumulation of osmolytes, but PGPR in combination with compost and mineral fertilizer under drought stress triggered higher accumulation of soluble sugar and proline content, i.e., 28.96% and 73.91%, respectively. It is concluded from this research that PGPR in combination with compost and mineral fertilizer considerably reduces the effect of drought on wheat by enhancing the physiological (RWC, membrane stability, chlorophyll content, and water potential) and biochemical (proline and sugar) aspects of the plant.

Influence of Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic Acid on Wheat Under Drought Stress

ABSTRACT Salicylic acid and jasmonic acid play an important role in plants coping with abiotic stresses. An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid on wheat under drought. Seeds were primed with jasmonic acid (100µM) and salicylic acid (10 Mm). Water stress was applied by withholding water and each treatment was replicated three times with a factorial block design. Application of Salicylic acid and Jasmonic acid mitigated drought effects in wheat. Results revealed that 100µM Jasmonic acid was more effective than 10 mM SA. Drought decreased germination by 26%, whereas application of Jasmonic acid and Salicylic acid ameliorated stress with the increase of germination by 27% and 21%, respectively. An increase in the shoot length of 23% and 20% was observed with Jasmonic acid and Salicylic acid, under drought conditions. The increase in water potential was 60% and 47% with JA and SA while the increase in proline and soluble sugar was 14% and 25% respectively. The application of Jasmonic acid and Salicylic acid has a potential to enhance the growth of wheat plants under drought.

Microbes and Agrochemicals to Stress Tolerance

Global climatic change significantly modulates physiology of drought. Related are increase in CO2 concentration and mineral deficiency. Drought is one of the major stresses that limit agriculture productivity. Drought affects both legumes and their symbionts. Inoculated plants can better adapt under stress than un-inoculated ones. Inoculation with competitive and -tolerant microbes may be economically feasible way to enhance legume productivity in stressed environments. This review deals with the effects of drought, CO2 and minerals on Biological Nitrogen Fixation and possibility of the use of microbes in the amelioration of these stresses in legumes. CO2 enrichment under drought causes an enhancement of photo assimilation, an increased partitioning of carbon to nodules, whose main effect are to sustain nodule growth, which helped sustain N2 rates under soil water deficits.