Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Shewanella putrefaciens and Cronobacter dublinensis enhance drought tolerance of pearl millet by modulating hormones and stress-responsive genes.

Drought is a major abiotic stress that affects crop productivity. Endophytic bacteria have been found to alleviate the adverse effects of drought on plants. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of two endophytic bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens strain MCL-1 and Cronobacter dublinensis strain MKS-1 on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.

Comparative response of Spodoptera litura challenged per os with Serratia marcescens strains differing in virulence.

Host plays an important role in influencing virulence of a pathogen and efficacy of a biopesticide. The present study was aimed to characterize the possible factors present in Spodoptera litura that influenced pathogenecity of orally ingested S. marcescens strains, differing in their virulence.

Antioxidant, physiological and biochemical responses of drought susceptible and drought tolerant mustard (Brassica juncea L) genotypes to rhizobacterial inoculation under water deficit stress.

Response of drought susceptible (DS) genotype Pusa Karishma LES-39 and drought tolerant (DT) mustard genotype NPJ-124, to rhizobacterial inoculation under water deficit stress, was compared in the present study to determine the influence of inoculants on biochemical and physiological attributes of these two different genotypes. Inoculation was observed to improve root and shoot dry weight in both the genotypes, although better results were observed in the DS genotype. There was variation in the response of the two genotypes to rhizobacterial inoculation, under water deficit stress.

Diversity and Tissue Preference of Osmotolerant Bacterial Endophytes Associated with Pearl Millet Genotypes Having Differential Drought Susceptibilities.

Genetic and functional diversity of osmotolerant bacterial endophytes colonizing the root, stem, and leaf tissues of pearl millet genotypes differing in their drought susceptibility was assessed. Two genotypes of pearl millet, viz., the drought tolerant genotype TT-1 and the drought susceptible genotype PPMI-69, were used in the present study.

Characterization of putative virulence factors of Serratia marcescens strain SEN for pathogenesis in Spodoptera litura.

Two Serratia marcescens strains, SEN and ICC-4, isolated from diseased insect cadavers were observed to differ considerably in their virulence towards Spodoptera litura. The present study was aimed to characterize the possible virulence factors present in the virulent Serratia marcescens strain SEN. Both the S.

Cloning and heterologous expression of cellulose free thermostable xylanase from Bacillus brevis.

Xylanase gene isolated from Bacillus brevis was expressed in E. coli BL21. Sequencing of the gene (Gen Bank accession number: HQ179986) showed that it belongs to family 11 xylanases.

Induction of osmoadaptive mechanisms and modulation of cellular physiology help Bacillus licheniformis strain SSA 61 adapt to salt stress.

Bacillus licheniformis strain SSA 61, originally isolated from Sambhar salt lake, was observed to grow even in the presence of 25 % salt stress. Osmoadaptive mechanisms of this halotolerant B. licheniformis strain SSA 61, for long-term survival and growth under salt stress, were determined.

Effects of lindane on lindane-degrading Azotobacter chroococcum; evaluation of toxicity of possible degradation product(s) on plant and insect.

The effects of lindane on growth and plant growth-promoting traits of two lindane-degrading Azotobacter chroococcum strains (JL 15 and JL 104) were determined. The potential of both A. chroococcum strains to degrade lindane was also determined.