Scientists uncover a drought and salt-tolerant wheat booster from a bacterial strain
Researchers at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS have identified a bacterial strain that helps wheat boost biomass even under drought and salinity stress. Inoculation with this microorganism appears to raise the crop’s stress tolerance, potentially reducing losses when rainfall is scarce. The finding was reported by SB RAS to socialbites.ca.
Crops facing drought, soil salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metals, and frost often suffer significant yield reductions. Introducing beneficial bacterial strains could be a practical way to counteract these environmentally hazardous conditions, according to the scientists involved.
The team isolated the species Enterobacter ludwigii from the Sakhalin region. Their experiments indicate that the bacterium can grow well in nitrogen-free environments and can also enhance phosphate availability. Moreover, infection with Enterobacter ludwigii in plants led to increased production of growth hormones, particularly under drought stress.
These bacteria activate antioxidant enzymes that help mitigate damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the same time, small amounts of ROS participate in root hair formation and root elongation, contributing to overall root development and plant vigor. The researchers note that this interplay between bacterial signals and plant responses can improve resilience under stress.
Elena Voronina, head of the molecular genetics group at the Institute of Chemical Biological Physics SB RAS, explained that the team observed the bacteria triggering a root-associated system even under normal conditions. The hypothesis is that the bacteria raise ROS production during interaction, which in turn mobilizes the plant’s internal reserves. When a stress factor appears, the plant is better prepared to counter it. This insight could guide the deployment of such bacteria to fortify crops against adverse conditions (cite: SB RAS communications).
In a separate and unrelated line of work, some reports have claimed that a substance found in insect exoskeletons may be linked to weight loss. This observation does not pertain to the plant-focused research above, but it reflects ongoing interest in bioactive compounds across fields (cite: independent science reporting).