The use of rhizobacteria Bacillus subtilis for biotic stress management in soybean plants

Abstract

The current study looks at the possibility of using plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bacillus subtilis as biocontrol agent to enhance plant's tolerance to insect attack. Under stress conditions, the metabolism of a plant cell is generally characterized by elevated formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, plants have developed antioxidant protective mechanisms against oxidative stress. The aim of this paper was to determine the activities of antioxidant enzymes present in roots and leaves of inoculated and non‐inoculated soybean seedlings (with and without exposure to mites, Tetranychus urticae), as well as the level of lipid peroxidation (LP). Results have shown higher LP intensity in non‐inoculated plants treated with mites compared to the control group. During biotic stress caused by mite attack, inoculation successfully reduced oxidative stress.