Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Evaluation of the impact of novel synthetic microbial consortia on the growth and moisture stress alleviating potential in rice |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Thangavel Kalaiselvi, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | tkalaiselvi@tnau.ac.in |
Equipments : | Cold storage cabinet
Moisture meter |
Details
Executive Summary : | According to Drought Early warning System (2019), the area under drought accounts for 42%. It is an important abiotic stress which adversely affects the crop yield. On the other side, intensive cultivation leads to poor soil nutrient status including micronutrients like zinc. Rice, the staple food crop requires huge quantity of water for cultivation. To cultivate rice in such conditions, it is essential to develop ecofriendly crop management strategies with increased moisture stress tolerance and nutrient use efficiency. Endophytic microorganisms improving plant growth and health through nutritional, and non nutritional modes (biotic and abiotic tolerance) are viable inputs. Although plethoras of biofertilizers are available, the biofertilizers recommended for rice cultivation includes a nitrogen fixer (Azospirillum) and a phosphate solubilizer (phosphobacteria) only although potassium and zinc solubilizers are available. There is no commercial bioinoculant for moisture stress mitigation and no single commercial inoculant capable of solubilizing P, K and Zn. This project aims at evaluating the impact of novel synthetic microbial consortia consist of endophytic moisture stress mitigating bacterium (Sphingobium yanoikuyae MH394206), a multimineral (P,K & Zn) solubilizer (Alkalihalobacillus clausii MW445000), a diazotroph (Azospirillum brasilense) and a nutrient mobilizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) for improving growth of rice by enhancing nutrient use efficiency and by inducing tolerance against moisture stress. Sphingobium yanoikuyae from rice (IR64DRT) possess the beneficial traits of moisture stress tolerance (-5.5MPa), proline (21.0 μgml-1), IAA (15.15 μg mL-1), GA (549.50 μg mL-1), exopolysaccharide (32.84 μg mL-1), butanediol (2.5%) and ACC deaminase (ACCD) (210.0 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1) production. Seed pelletization (Rice CO51) with this bacterium was found to induce moisture stress (75% at field capacity inducted after 45 DOS)) tolerance under pot culture. Alkalihalobacillus clausii MW445000, isolated from rice rhizosphere is capable of solubilizing phosphate (1.7cm), potassium (1.6cm) and zinc (2.3cm), sectre secrete IAA (22.93 μg mL-1), GA (47.10 μg mL-1), exopolysaccharide (16.09 μg mL-1) and tolerate moisture stress (-1.2 MPa). The effect of the synthetic microbial consortia on the growth and yield potential of rice (CO51) with recommended dose of fertilizers under moisture stress (60 and 80 % pan evaporation) during critical stages (panicle initiation and flowering) will be assessed in pot and field conditions. The effect will also be evaluated in terms of nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency and crop growth. The mechanism of moisture stress tolerance in plants will be elucidated through biochemical and molecular studies. This study ultimately would result in development of new microbial consortia (Moisture stress mitigator+PKZn+ N fixer + Nutrient mobilizer) for sustainable rice production. |
Total Budget (INR): | 26,76,300 |
Organizations involved