Austrian microbiologists from the University of Vienna, alongside colleagues in the United States, have identified groups of bacteria that support plant survival during drought. Their findings were published in Nature Communications.
Soil microorganisms play a vital role in ecosystems. They contribute to soil fertility, aid plants in nutrient uptake, and influence climate by determining whether soil stores or releases carbon dioxide.
Researchers have developed a new method to monitor bacterial activity under conditions of limited rainfall, enabling observations of microbial responses during short- and long-term dry spells.
By modeling a range of climatic scenarios, scientists identified a drought-tolerant bacterium within the genus Streptomyces that becomes more prevalent in arid soils. Its filamentous structure enables the microbe to navigate soil pores and deliver water and nutrients from distant sources to plant roots.
Results indicate that these microorganisms also contribute to reduced carbon emissions by promoting carbon sequestration in the soil, helping soils store more carbon during dry periods.
Earlier research demonstrated that certain bacteria, including strains of Escherichia coli, can generate electricity in microbial fuel cells used to treat wastewater, illustrating the diverse functional capabilities of microbes in environmental processes. [Attribution: Nature Communications]