Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is economically important, but abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, and severe temperatures are having an increasing effect on its productivity. Plant cells experience oxidative stress, which leads to the buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The production of antioxidant enzymes by specific bacteria in the loquat rhizosphere can reduce ROS levels and possibly increase the plant's resistance to these stresses. However, little is known about the processes by which these bacteria aid loquat in defending against oxidative stress. The purpose of this work is to identify and describe the bacterial strains linked to loquat that produce antioxidant enzymes and to clarify how they help loquat plants. After separating bacterial strains from the loquat rhizosphere, we examined their antioxidant enzyme activity, paying particular attention to the synthesis of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) under stress-like circumstances. To identify and examine the genes in charge of the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes and the control of stress responses, high-performing strains were chosen for in-depth characterization utilizing enzyme activity tests and molecular methods such as qPCR and genome sequencing. The chosen bacterial strains were administered to loquat seedlings, which were subsequently subjected to simulated oxidative stress, to evaluate their practical effects. To assess the effect on plant health, measurements were made of three important physiological indicators: electrolyte leakage, relative water content, and chlorophyll concentration. Furthermore, the amount of ROS in loquat tissues was measured, and qPCR was used to examine the expression of the plant's own antioxidant genes. This study found that antioxidant-producing bacteria improved loquat’s oxidative stress tolerance, lowering ROS levels, increasing chlorophyll, and reducing electrolyte leakage, thus boosting resilience to oxidative damage. These findings pave the way for sustainable microbial inoculants to reduce oxidative stress in loquat farming, enhancing crop stability under tough conditions.
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Harnessing Antioxidant-Producing Rhizobacteria to Boost Loquat Oxidative Stress Defense Under Adverse Environmental Conditions
Published:
31 March 2025
by MDPI
in The 3rd International Electronic Conference on Microbiology
session Microbe-Plant Interactions
Abstract:
Keywords: Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species (ROS); Abiotic stress; Rhizosphere bacteria; Loquat-associated microbes;
