Molecular mechanisms adopted by abiotic stress tolerant Pseudomonas fluorescens (NBAII-PFDWD) in response to in vitro osmotic stress

Water stress in one of the limiting factors which influences the plant growth. Microbes being as a partner are an integral part of the ecosystem which influences the plant growth under stress. In the present study, Pseudomonas fluorescens (NBAII- PFDWD) subjected to osmotic stress by altering osmotic potential (-10.28 MPa and -26.82 MPa) using Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 6000 in its growth media revealed expression of proteins which modulates its cell processes. MALDI TOF studies of selected spots from 2D gel analysis of P. fluorescens (NBAII- PFDWD) grown under different osmotic stresses revealed that the stress kindled genes which were involved in production of osmoprotectants, genes encoding DNA damage repair and increased the translational accuracy. The studies also showed that P. fluorescens possesses unique mechanisms for survival under osmotic stress. The studies indicate the diverse expression of proteins in P. fluorescens (NBAII- PFDWD) under different osmotic potentials which helped them to mitigate impact of osmotic stress. The present method unravelled the mechanisms adopted by P. fluorescens (NBAII- PFDWD) to thrive under osmotic stress. The bacterium is potential stress tolerant isolate which can be exploited as a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for agricultural crops grown in stressed soils.