Physiological and Genetic Modifications Induced by Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in Tomato Plants under Moderate Water Stress

Simple Summary The availability of water is an essential factor in food production and, therefore, for food security, since even with moderate water deficits, plants reduce their production significantly. In a context of climate change, in which water scarcity is becoming increasingly evident, food security can be seriously compromised. In this work, the use of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains is proposed as a biotechnological tool to improve the physiological conditions of tomato plants under conditions of moderate water stress with the aim of trying not to lose productive capacity under these conditions. To validate it, the effect of PGPR on photosynthesis, oxidative state, and innate defensive response were determined in plants growing under moderate water stress. The results obtained show that PGPR can alter the physiology of plants in different ways, improving their resistance under moderate water stress conditions, maintaining their productive capacity. The use of this technology in agricultural production could reduce water consumption without reducing food production, which would have a strong social impact at all levels. Physiological, metabolic, and genetic changes produced by two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Pseudomonas sp. (internal code of the laboratory: N 5.12 and N 21.24) inoculated in tomato plants subjected to moderate water stress (10% polyethylene glycol-6000; PEG) were studied. Photosynthesis efficiency, photosynthetic pigments, compatible osmolytes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes activities, oxidative stress level and expression of genes related to abscisic acid synthesis (ABA; 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase NCDE1 gene), proline synthesis (Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase P5CS gene), and plasma membrane ATPase (PM ATPase gene) were measured. Photosynthetic efficiency was compromised by PEG, but bacterial-inoculated plants reversed the effects: while N5.12 increased carbon fixation (37.5%) maintaining transpiration, N21.24 increased both (14.2% and 31%), negatively affecting stomatal closure, despite the enhanced expression of NCDE1 and plasma membrane ATPase genes, evidencing the activation of different adaptive mechanisms. Among all parameters evaluated, photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzymes guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) responded differently to both strains. N 5.12 increased photosynthetic pigments (70% chlorophyll a, 69% chlorophyll b, and 65% carotenoids), proline (33%), glycine betaine (4.3%), and phenolic compounds (21.5%) to a greater extent, thereby decreasing oxidative stress (12.5% in Malondialdehyde, MDA). Both bacteria have highly beneficial effects on tomato plants subjected to moderate water stress, improving their physiological state. The use of these bacteria in agricultural production systems could reduce the amount of water for agricultural irrigation without having a negative impact on food production.