STATISTICAL, MOLECULAR, AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL INSIGHTS INTO THE STRESS-ALLEVIATING POTENTIAL OF AUTOCHTHONOUS STEPPE BACTERIAL LINEAGES
Main Article Content
Authors
Zh.Zh. Zhaksybek
National Center for Biotechnology, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
A.K. Sattarova
National Center for Biotechnology, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
S.K. Abeldenov
National Center for Biotechnology, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
A.R. Zhumakayev
National Center for Biotechnology, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
Abstract
The identification and characterization of multi-stress tolerant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) are essential for developing sustainable agricultural strategies to mitigate the effects of abiotic stress factors and intensive agrochemical usage. This study aimed to evaluate the stress tolerance of eleven autochthonous strains isolated from steppe zone previously exposed to glyphosate application. Taxonomic identity was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, resulting in a phylogenetically diverse collection of isolates belonging to the genera Pseudomonas spp., Paenibacillus spp., and Paenarthrobacter spp. The strains were subjected to a comparative tolerance screening under abiotic and xenobiotic stress, including osmotic, saline, and glyphosate exposure. Quantitative growth histograms revealed distribution of strains depending on stress factors, while principal component analysis (PCA) identified distinct clustering patterns, indicating genus-specific tolerance thresholds. Molecular screening detected the groL and ectA genes in Paenibacillus isolates, indicating potential roles in protein folding and osmoadaptation. Furthermore, ultrastructural scanning and transmission microscopic imaging revealed exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, suggesting its role in cellular protection. Overall, the eleven indigenous strains showed synergistic physiological, genetic, and structural adaptations, highlighting their potential as multi-functional bio-inoculants for stress-resilient agriculture.
Keywords
PGPB, Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Paenarthrobacter, glyphosate tolerance, EPS, SEM/TEM, abiotic stress factors
Article Details
References
Sharma A., Kumar V., Shahzad B., Tanveer M., Sidhu G.P.S., Handa N., Kohli S.K., Yadav P., Bali A.S., Parihar R.D., Dar O.I., Singh K., Jasrotia S., Bakshi P., Ramakrishnan M., Kumar S., Bhardwaj R., Thukral A.K. Worldwide pesticide usage and its impacts on ecosystem // SN Applied Sciences. – 2019. – Vol. 1, No. 11. – Crossref
Muhammad M., Waheed A., Wahab A., Majeed M., Nazim M., Liu Y.H., Li L., Li W.J. Soil salinity and drought tolerance: An evaluation of plant growth, productivity, microbial diversity, and amelioration strategies // Plant Stress. – 2024. – Vol. 11. – Crossref
Udayanga S., Bellanthudawa B.K.A., De Zoysa H.L.S. Sustainable agriculture and responsible use of pesticides: commercial crop cultivators’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice perspectives regarding pesticide use // Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. – 2024. – Vol. 8. – Crossref
Köninger J., Labouyrie M., Ballabio C., et al. Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils // Nature. – 2026. – Vol. 650, No. 8101. – P. 367–373. – Crossref
Sun Z.X., Zhang C.C., Dong J.L., Jiang Y.Y. Climate change and agriculture—sustainable plant production // Agronomy. – 2024. – Vol. 14, No. 6. – Crossref
Aislabie J., Deslippe J.R. Soil microbes and their contribution to soil services // In: Dymond J.R. (Ed.). Ecosystem Services in New Zealand: Conditions and Trends. – Lincoln, New Zealand: Manaaki Whenua Press, 2013. – P. 143–161. – Crossref
Chen Q., Song Y., An Y., Lu Y., Zhong G. Soil microorganisms: Their role in enhancing crop nutrition and health // Diversity. – 2024. – Vol. 16, No. 12. – Crossref
Asghar I., Ahmed M., Farooq M.A., Ishtiaq M., Arshad M., Akram M., Umair A., Alrefaei A.F., Jat Baloch M.Y., Naeem A. Characterizing indigenous plant growth promoting bacteria and their synergistic effects with organic and chemical fertilizers on wheat (Triticum aestivum) // Frontiers in Plant Science. – 2023. – Vol. 14. – Crossref
Bianco C. Plant-growth-promoting bacteria // Plants. – 2024. – Vol. 13, No. 10. – Crossref
Pérez-Montaño F., Aparicio N., Arenas F., et al. Emerging crops and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB): a synergistic approach to climate-resilient agriculture // Microbiome. – 2025. – Vol. 13, No. 1. – Crossref
Basu A., Prasad P., Das S.N., Kalam S., Sayyed R.Z., Reddy M.S., Enshasy H. El. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as green bioinoculants: Recent developments, constraints, and prospects // Sustainability. – 2021. – Vol. 13, No. 3. – P. 1–20. – Crossref
Bertola M., Ferrarini A., Visioli G. Improvement of soil microbial diversity through sustainable agricultural practices and omics approaches // Microorganisms. – 2021. – Vol. 9, No. 7. – Crossref
Zamule S.M., Dupre C.E., Mendola M.L., Widmer J., Shebert J.A., Roote C.E., Das P. Bioremediation potential of select bacterial species for neonicotinoid insecticides // Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. – 2021. – Vol. 209. – Crossref
Muyzer G., De Waal E.C., Uitterlinden A.G. Profiling of complex microbial populations by DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes // Applied and Environmental Microbiology. – 1993. – P. 695–700. – URL
Kassambara A, Mundt F (2020). factoextra: Extract and Visualize the Results of Multivariate Data Analyses. R package version 1.0.7
Wickham, H. ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis; Springer-Verlag: New York, NY, USA, 2016.
Pedersen, T.L. patchwork: The Composer of Plots, R package version 1.3.0; R Core Team: Vienna, Austria, 2024.
Guimarães, Daniel P., et al. Optimization of dextran syntesis and acidic hydrolisis by surface response analysis // Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering 16.2 (1999): 129-139. Crossref
Figueiredo, J. E. F., Diniz, G. D. F. D., Marins, M. S., Silva, F. C., Ribeiro, V. P., Lanza, F. E., ... & Cruz-Magalhães, V. (2025). Bacillus velezensis CNPMS-22 as biocontrol agent of pathogenic fungi and plant growth promoter // Frontiers in Microbiology, 16, 1522136. Crossref
Roque, M. R. D. A., Paulo, E. M., Vasconcelos, M. P., Oliveira, I. S., Affe, H. M. D. J., Nascimento, R., .& Assis, S. A. D. (2012). An alternative method for screening lactic acid bacteria for the production of exopolysaccharides with rapid confirmation // Food Science and Technology. Crossref
Khumairah F.H., Setiawati M.R., Fitriatin B.N., et al. Halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria improve nitrogen fixation and salt stress in rice // Frontiers in Microbiology. – 2022. – Vol. 13. – Crossref
Nader A.A., Hauka F.I.A., Afify A.H., El-Sawah A.M. Drought-tolerant bacteria and AMF mitigate drought stress in soybean // Microorganisms. – 2024. – Vol. 12, No. 6. – Crossref
Hernández-Fernández G., Galán B., Carmona M., Castro L., García J.L. Transcriptional response of Arthrobacter sp. Helios strain to drought stress // Frontiers in Microbiology. – 2022. – Vol. 13. – Crossref
Jochum Michael D., McWilliams Kelsey L., Borrego Eli J., Kolomiets Mike V., Niu Genhua, Pierson Elizabeth A., Jo Young-Ki. Bioprospecting plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that mitigate drought stress in grasses // Frontiers in Microbiology. – 2019. – Vol. 10. – Crossref
Wang C., Pei J., Li H., Zhu X., Zhang Y., Wang Y., Li W., Wang Z. Mechanisms on salt tolerance of Paenibacillus polymyxa SC2 and its growth-promoting effects on maize seedlings under saline conditions // Microbiological Research. – 2024. – Vol. 282. – Crossref
Langendries S., Goormachtig S. Paenibacillus polymyxa, a jack of all trades // Environmental Microbiology. – 2021. – Vol. 23, No. 10. – P. 5659–5669. – Crossref
Zamanzadeh-Nasrabadi S.M., Mohammadiapanah F., Hosseini-Mazinani M., Sarikhan S. Salinity stress endurance of plants with bacterial genes // Frontiers in Genetics. – 2023. – Vol. 14. – Crossref
He X., Li Q., Wang N., Chen S. Effects of EPS biosynthesis gene cluster in Paenibacillus spp. WLY78 // Microorganisms. – 2021. – Vol. 9, No. 2. – Crossref
Liang T.W., Wang S.L. Exopolysaccharides from Paenibacillus spp. // Marine Drugs. – 2015. – Vol. 13, No. 4. – P. 1847–1863. – Crossref
Deka P., Goswami G., Das P., et al. Bacterial exopolysaccharide improves soil aggregation // Molecular Biology Reports. – 2019. – Vol. 46, No. 1. – P. 1079–1091. – Crossref
Shuhong Y., Meiping Z., Hong Y., Han W., Shan X., Yan L., Jihui W. Biosorption of Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cr6+ by Arthrobacter ps-5 exopolysaccharide // Carbohydrate Polymers. – 2014. – Vol. 101, No. 1. – P. 50–56. – Crossref