The document examines the phytochemical content of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) treated with rhizobacteria isolated from olive trees (Olea europaea L.). Eleven bacterial strains were tested for their ability to promote plant growth and influence phytochemical parameters in zucchini. The bacteria significantly increased zucchini growth factors like root length, number of leaves and flowers. They also enhanced phytochemical contents such as flower pigmentation and polyphenol levels compared to untreated controls. The study demonstrates the potential of using rhizobacteria to improve crop nutrition and phytochemical production through plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere.
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Rima Hadjouti et al (2022) Phytochemical content and foreign rhizobacteria. 7 Slide Presentation with oral commentary.pptx
1. Phytochemical content of Cucurbita pepo L. and foreign rhizobacterial complements
Rima Hadjouti1, Hakima M. Kaci1, Farida Benzina1, Malika Boudani2, Karima Aili2, Sid Ali Saadi3 , James N. Furze4, 5
1 Laboratoire de Valorisation et Conservation des Ressources Biologiques (VALCOR), Université M'hamed Bougara, Algeria. 2
Faculté des Sciences, Université M'hamed Bougara, Algeria. 3 Laboratoire de Biologie des Systèmes Microbiens (LBSM), Ecole
Normale Supérieure de Kouba, Algeria. 4 Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Natural Resources, Ibn Zohr
University, Morocco. 5 Control and Systems Engineering Department, University of Technology-Iraq, Iraq
2. Brachypodium
Root exudates
Organic acids
Small molecules
Hormones
Competition /
Colonization
Recognition /
Recruitment
Chemical
signalling
Rhizosphere
Rhizospheric
microbiome
Bulk soil microbiome
Soil environment
Geography
Climate
Soil type
Moisture conditions
Terrestrial
systems
functioning
Edaphic
microorganisms
Plant biomass production
Rhizosphere
Soil
Fig. 1 Edaphic micro-organisms, the keys actors in plant biomass production Fig. 2 Rhizospheric components and processes (White et al. 2017)
3. Fig. 3 Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a natural alternative to chemical intervention in the soil (GHG – greenhouse gases)
Sustainable agriculture
PGPR
Biotechnology
Nutrient availability and
uptake; stress tolerance
plant / receptor stimulation
Decrease
fertility and
soil health
Increase salinity
/ acidity
Harden
the soil
Destroy soil
organisms /
organic content
Pollute air water
and release GHGs
Affect food
quality and taste
Chemical
fertilizers
4. Methods/ approach
PGP molecules: IAA; Siderophores, Phosphatase, Ammonia
CWD Enzymes: Lipase, Phospholipase, Glucanase
Germination and vegetative parameters
Phytochemical parameters
Fig. 4 Rhizobacteria from Olea europaea: a) Investigating plant growth promoting (PGP) and cell wall degrading enzyme (CWDE) activity, IAA –Indole-3-acetic acid;
b) In vivo assays on zucchini and effects on phytochemical parameters
a
b
6. Fig. 8 Visible effect of bacterial strains on zucchini growth
Fig. 7 Rhizospheric bacteria (PGPR) plant interactions (Oulebsir-Mohandkaci et al. 2021;
Shah et al. 2021)
Control Treated zuchinni
Bacteria
Fungi
Virus
Nematodes and
insects
Drought
Temperature
Salinity
Acidity
Nitrogen fixation
Nutrient uptake
P-solubalization
K-solubalization
Phytohormones
Siderophore
Biocontrol
Induced systemic
acquired resistance
PGPR
Biotic
Stresses
Abiotic
Stresses
Nutrient
availabilit
y and
uptake
Enhanced
stress
tolerance
7. Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education (DGRST), and PRFU project program (Code: D00L05UN350120180004) for
support. We gratefully acknowledge the Algerian National Centre for Seed and Plant Control and Certification for supplying zucchini
seeds.
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References
• Hadjouti R, Mohandkaci H, Benzina F et al (2022) Enhancing agriculture recovery of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Cucurbita pepo
L. with Olea europaea L. plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Soil Res. https://doi:10.1071/SR21320
• Oulebsir-Mohandkaci H, Benzina-Tihar F, Hadjouti R (2021) Exploring biofertilizer potential of plant growth-promoting
rhizobacteria Bacillus clausii strain B8 (MT305787) on Brassica napus and Medicago sativa. Not Bot Horti Agrobot Cluj Napoca
49(4):12484-12484. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha49412484
• Shah A, Nazari M, Antar M et al (2021) PGPR in agriculture: a sustainable approach to increasing climate change resilience.
Front Sustain Food Syst. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.667546
• White IIIRA, Rivas-Ubach A, Borkum MI et al (2017) The state of rhizospheric science in the era of multi-omics: a practical guide
to omics technologies. Rhizosphere 3:212-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph. 2017.05.003
Editor's Notes
Soil upholds the functioning of terrestrial systems. Attributes include water, climate-control, nutrient cycling and biodiversity. Soil is a vulnerable, limited resource; producing food, energy and raw materials. Soils provide ecosystem functions for human well-being; supporting plant biomass production. Edaphic rhizospheres are rich in microorganisms. Microbial functional-diversity influences soil processes and functions.
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of bacteria inhabiting plant rhizospheres, and enable wide and ecologically significant functions. PGPR-based biotechnology elicits soil-inoculant developments, contributing to sustainable agriculture; reducing the need for chemical intervention.
Rhizobacteria from Olea europea were tested for their capacity to produce plant growth promoting (PGP) molecules in vitro including Indole acetic acid, siderophores, phosphatase and ammonia; cell-wall degrading enzymes: lipase, phospholipase and glucanase. Additonal in vivo tests on zucchini seeds, germination and vegetative parameters were performed and subjected to statistical analysis. Phytochemical parameters of zucchini plants were measured, quantifying the water content of fresh-leaves, mineral content of aerial parts, presence of different pigments of the leaves and determination of total polyphenol content.
The tested rhizobacteria showed a capacity to produce PGP molecules and cell-wall degrading enzymes. They showed an ability to significantly enhance root length, lateral root formation, the number of leaves and flowers. Further, rhizobacteria enhanced carotenoid, chlorophyll A and total polyphenol content.
The soil environment has ecological niches endowed with diverse chemical processes. Rhizobacteria with PGPR molecules resolve soil deficits including provision of biochemical resources for plant health and development, leading to optimisation of agro-ecological food production for human and ecosystem benefit.