Effect of Rhizobium mechanisms in improving tolerance to saline stress in lettuce plants

Abstract

[EN]Soils affected by salinity are a recurring problem that is continually increasing due to the impact of climate change on weather conditions and ineffective agricultural management practices. The use of plant growth promoting (PGP) Bacteria can alleviate its effects. In this regard, the genus Rhizobium has demonstrated excellent PGP capabilities through various plant growth promotion mechanisms and may therefore be a promising biofortifier under saline conditions. However, little is known about the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by bacteria of this genus and their effects on plant development. Here, we aim to characterize the volatilome (the set of volatile metabolites synthesized by an organism) of Rhizobium for the first time and to further investigate the direct and VOC-mediated interaction between a strain of this genus and lettuce, a crop severely affected by salinity, both under saline and non-saline conditions.