Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats
Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting crop yield in arid and semi-arid regions. Plant growth-promoting fungi can help plants thrive in stressful conditions. In this study, we isolated and characterized 26 halophilic fungi (endophytic, rhizospheric, and soil) from the coastal r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4904 |
| _version_ | 1797615070722654208 |
|---|---|
| author | Muhammad Aizaz Waqar Ahmad Sajjad Asaf Ibrahim Khan Syed Saad Jan Safiya Salim Alamri Saqib Bilal Rahmatullah Jan Kyung-Min Kim Ahmed Al-Harrasi |
| author_facet | Muhammad Aizaz Waqar Ahmad Sajjad Asaf Ibrahim Khan Syed Saad Jan Safiya Salim Alamri Saqib Bilal Rahmatullah Jan Kyung-Min Kim Ahmed Al-Harrasi |
| author_sort | Muhammad Aizaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting crop yield in arid and semi-arid regions. Plant growth-promoting fungi can help plants thrive in stressful conditions. In this study, we isolated and characterized 26 halophilic fungi (endophytic, rhizospheric, and soil) from the coastal region of Muscat, Oman, for plant growth-promoting activities. About 16 out of 26 fungi were found to produce IAA, and about 11 isolates (MGRF1, MGRF2, GREF1, GREF2, TQRF4, TQRF5, TQRF5, TQRF6, TQRF7, TQRF8, TQRF2) out of 26 strains were found to significantly improve seed germination and seedling growth of wheat. To evaluate the effect of the above-selected strains on salt tolerance in wheat, we grew wheat seedlings in 150 mM, 300 mM NaCl and SW (100% seawater) treatments and inoculated them with the above strains. Our findings showed that fungal strains MGRF1, MGRF2, GREF2, and TQRF9 alleviate 150 mM salt stress and increase shoot length compared to their respective control plants. However, in 300 mM stressed plants, GREF1 and TQRF9 were observed to improve shoot length. Two strains, GREF2 and TQRF8, also promoted plant growth and reduced salt stress in SW-treated plants. Like shoot length, an analogous pattern was observed in root length, and different salt stressors such as 150 mM, 300 mM, and SW reduced root length by up to 4%, 7.5%, and 19.5%, respectively. Three strains, GREF1, TQRF7, and MGRF1, had higher catalase (CAT) levels, and similar results were observed in polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and GREF1 inoculation dramatically raised the PPO level in 150 mM salt stress. The fungal strains had varying effects, with some, such as GREF1, GREF2, and TQRF9, showing a significant increase in protein content as compared to their respective control plants. Under salinity stress, the expression of <i>DREB2</i> and <i>DREB6</i> genes was reduced. However, the <i>WDREB2</i> gene, on the other hand, was shown to be highly elevated during salt stress conditions, whereas the opposite was observed in inoculated plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:21:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2089f49cc0ab434387a07afab17fca38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:21:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2089f49cc0ab434387a07afab17fca382023-11-17T07:55:01ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-03-01245490410.3390/ijms24054904Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline HabitatsMuhammad Aizaz0Waqar Ahmad1Sajjad Asaf2Ibrahim Khan3Syed Saad Jan4Safiya Salim Alamri5Saqib Bilal6Rahmatullah Jan7Kyung-Min Kim8Ahmed Al-Harrasi9Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanDepartment of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaNatural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, OmanSalinity stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting crop yield in arid and semi-arid regions. Plant growth-promoting fungi can help plants thrive in stressful conditions. In this study, we isolated and characterized 26 halophilic fungi (endophytic, rhizospheric, and soil) from the coastal region of Muscat, Oman, for plant growth-promoting activities. About 16 out of 26 fungi were found to produce IAA, and about 11 isolates (MGRF1, MGRF2, GREF1, GREF2, TQRF4, TQRF5, TQRF5, TQRF6, TQRF7, TQRF8, TQRF2) out of 26 strains were found to significantly improve seed germination and seedling growth of wheat. To evaluate the effect of the above-selected strains on salt tolerance in wheat, we grew wheat seedlings in 150 mM, 300 mM NaCl and SW (100% seawater) treatments and inoculated them with the above strains. Our findings showed that fungal strains MGRF1, MGRF2, GREF2, and TQRF9 alleviate 150 mM salt stress and increase shoot length compared to their respective control plants. However, in 300 mM stressed plants, GREF1 and TQRF9 were observed to improve shoot length. Two strains, GREF2 and TQRF8, also promoted plant growth and reduced salt stress in SW-treated plants. Like shoot length, an analogous pattern was observed in root length, and different salt stressors such as 150 mM, 300 mM, and SW reduced root length by up to 4%, 7.5%, and 19.5%, respectively. Three strains, GREF1, TQRF7, and MGRF1, had higher catalase (CAT) levels, and similar results were observed in polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and GREF1 inoculation dramatically raised the PPO level in 150 mM salt stress. The fungal strains had varying effects, with some, such as GREF1, GREF2, and TQRF9, showing a significant increase in protein content as compared to their respective control plants. Under salinity stress, the expression of <i>DREB2</i> and <i>DREB6</i> genes was reduced. However, the <i>WDREB2</i> gene, on the other hand, was shown to be highly elevated during salt stress conditions, whereas the opposite was observed in inoculated plants.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4904halophilic fungisalinityplant growth promotionhormonesidentification |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Aizaz Waqar Ahmad Sajjad Asaf Ibrahim Khan Syed Saad Jan Safiya Salim Alamri Saqib Bilal Rahmatullah Jan Kyung-Min Kim Ahmed Al-Harrasi Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats International Journal of Molecular Sciences halophilic fungi salinity plant growth promotion hormones identification |
| title | Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats |
| title_full | Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats |
| title_short | Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats |
| title_sort | characterization of the seed biopriming plant growth promoting and salinity ameliorating potential of halophilic fungi isolated from hypersaline habitats |
| topic | halophilic fungi salinity plant growth promotion hormones identification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4904 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammadaizaz characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT waqarahmad characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT sajjadasaf characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT ibrahimkhan characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT syedsaadjan characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT safiyasalimalamri characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT saqibbilal characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT rahmatullahjan characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT kyungminkim characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats AT ahmedalharrasi characterizationoftheseedbioprimingplantgrowthpromotingandsalinityamelioratingpotentialofhalophilicfungiisolatedfromhypersalinehabitats |