Combined inoculation of rhizobacteria with <i>Mesorhizobium</i> promotes growth, nutrient contents, and protects chickpea against <i>Fusarium redolens</i>

Sabrine Balti; Yassine Mabrouk; Mouna Souihi; Imen Hemissi; Ismail Amri; Ethan Humm; Noor Khan; Ann M. Hirsch; Sabrine Balti; Yassine Mabrouk; Mouna Souihi; Imen Hemissi; Ismail Amri; Ethan Humm; Noor Khan; Ann M. Hirsch

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2025015

AIMS Microbiology

2025, Volume 11, Issue 2: 318-337. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025015

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Combined inoculation of rhizobacteria with Mesorhizobium promotes growth, nutrient contents, and protects chickpea against Fusarium redolens

1.
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology (LR16CNSTN01), National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (CNSTN), Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, Tunisia
2.
Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Carthage University, 7021 Jarzouna, Tunisia
3.
National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunis, Hédi Karray Street, 2049 Tunis, Tunisia
4.
Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

Received: 13 December 2024 Revised: 07 March 2025 Accepted: 17 March 2025 Published: 14 April 2025

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is considered a cheap source of plant protein. In Mediterranean regions, and particularly in Tunisia, fungal attacks are likely to further aggravate drought stress and increase the economic vulnerability of chickpea production. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and rhizobia have the potential to enhance plant growth and mitigate the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. The objective of this study was to isolate non-rhizobial rhizosphere bacteria from the soil and evaluate their ability to enhance plants' growth and symbiotic performance and to control chickpea wilt caused by F. redolens. A total of 26 bacterial isolates from rhizosphere soil samples were subsequently evaluated for their antagonistic properties against five phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum solani, Fusarium oxysporum matthioli, Fusarium oxysporum MN-2, Fusarium oxysporum 184, and Fusarium rdolens). Seven bacterial isolates demonstrated in vitro plant-beneficial characteristics and/or antagonistic activity against 5 Fusarium strains. Two bacterial strains including Streptomyces diastaticus subsp. diastaticus and Bacillus subtilis were chosen for additional investigation because they showed the greatest number of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and exhibited an antagonistic effect on pathogens. Assays conducted in pots showed that PGPRs co-inoculated with Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 protected chickpea plants from F. redolens infection and enhanced plant growth and nutrient uptake. Pot experiments carried out in a greenhouse further demonstrated that the co-inoculation of chickpea plants with the bacterial strains and a Mesorhizobium strain lessened the severity of the F. redolens infection. These results suggest that co-inoculation with S. diastaticus subsp. diastaticus and Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 may act as a helpful bioformulation to boost chickpea plants' growth and protect them from wilting. Other PGPR candidates included Mesorhizobium spp. and B. subtilis strains. Both Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 and the uninoculated plants were used as controls. The association of PGPR with other inoculants potentially could substitute for chemical fertilizers, and testing of PGPR under field conditions will further elucidate their effectiveness on grain yields of chickpea.
- Chickpea,
- PGPR,
- plant growth,
- biological control,
- Fusarium redolens
Citation: Sabrine Balti, Yassine Mabrouk, Mouna Souihi, Imen Hemissi, Ismail Amri, Ethan Humm, Noor Khan, Ann M. Hirsch. Combined inoculation of rhizobacteria with Mesorhizobium promotes growth, nutrient contents, and protects chickpea against Fusarium redolens[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2025, 11(2): 318-337. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025015

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Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is considered a cheap source of plant protein. In Mediterranean regions, and particularly in Tunisia, fungal attacks are likely to further aggravate drought stress and increase the economic vulnerability of chickpea production. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and rhizobia have the potential to enhance plant growth and mitigate the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. The objective of this study was to isolate non-rhizobial rhizosphere bacteria from the soil and evaluate their ability to enhance plants' growth and symbiotic performance and to control chickpea wilt caused by F. redolens. A total of 26 bacterial isolates from rhizosphere soil samples were subsequently evaluated for their antagonistic properties against five phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum solani, Fusarium oxysporum matthioli, Fusarium oxysporum MN-2, Fusarium oxysporum 184, and Fusarium rdolens). Seven bacterial isolates demonstrated in vitro plant-beneficial characteristics and/or antagonistic activity against 5 Fusarium strains. Two bacterial strains including Streptomyces diastaticus subsp. diastaticus and Bacillus subtilis were chosen for additional investigation because they showed the greatest number of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and exhibited an antagonistic effect on pathogens. Assays conducted in pots showed that PGPRs co-inoculated with Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 protected chickpea plants from F. redolens infection and enhanced plant growth and nutrient uptake. Pot experiments carried out in a greenhouse further demonstrated that the co-inoculation of chickpea plants with the bacterial strains and a Mesorhizobium strain lessened the severity of the F. redolens infection. These results suggest that co-inoculation with S. diastaticus subsp. diastaticus and Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 may act as a helpful bioformulation to boost chickpea plants' growth and protect them from wilting. Other PGPR candidates included Mesorhizobium spp. and B. subtilis strains. Both Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 and the uninoculated plants were used as controls. The association of PGPR with other inoculants potentially could substitute for chemical fertilizers, and testing of PGPR under field conditions will further elucidate their effectiveness on grain yields of chickpea.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Laboratory project LR16CNSTN01 funded by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Additional funding was provided by a UCLA Faculty Award to A.M.H. in support of this research. Dr Y.M. gratefully acknowledges the financial support by the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for his stay in Dr Hirsch's lab at UCLA, Los Angeles.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Y.M. conceived and designed the experiments; S.B. and M.S. performed the experiments and statistical analyses; I.A., I.H., E.H., and N.K. contributed reagents, materials, and tools; S.B., Y.M., and A.M.H. contributed to the manuscript's preparation and revision.

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