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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Enhancing Drought Resilience in Okra
Through the Application of Indole Acetic Acid
(IAA) Producing Rhizobacteria in Soil
1
Department of Soil Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
2
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
3
Department of Life Sciences, Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan
4
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University,
P.O. 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
5
Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo,
71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Submission date: 2024-01-08
Final revision date: 2024-01-29
Acceptance date: 2024-04-30
Online publication date: 2024-09-03
Publication date: 2025-01-28
Corresponding author
Rashid Iqbal
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(3):2769-2782
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Drought is a significant contributor, lowering crop production in arid to semi-arid areas. Rhizosphere
bacteria play a crucial role in promoting plant growth and providing eco-friendly and efficient ways
to ameliorate drought. Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are key
in enhancing drought tolerance by soil aggregation, improving water retention, root proliferation,
and development in soil. Okra, a perishable vegetable, is highly susceptible to water shortages.
This study aimed to improve drought tolerance in okra under water deficit conditions through the
application of IAA-producing rhizobacteria. Two jar experiments were conducted to test the potential
of ten rhizobacterial strains under different polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) levels (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8%)
against osmotic stress. Results showed a significant increase in shoot and root length (25 and 26%,
respectively), root colonization (26%), germination (26%), root volume (25%), and total root length (25%)
by bacteria inoculation as compared to control. Furthermore, consortium application demonstrated
higher fresh and dry weights for shoots and roots (19, 23, 22, and 25%, respectively), as well as increased
root diameters and surface area (24 and 23%, respectively) under water-deficient conditions compared
to sole inoculation. In conclusion, microbial consortia were more effective in ameliorating drought
in okra and need further testing in natural conditions for biofertilizer development.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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