Survival strategies of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 during desiccation stress

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, including P. putida KT2440, has the ability to promote plant growth by different mechanisms. The success of microbial inoculants to increase the yield of crops is determined by the effectiveness of the bacterial isolate and the proper application technology. During their application on the fields, microorganisms must compete with better adapted indigenous microflora and withstand environment stresses such as desiccation. During desiccation process cells experience dehydration damage, osmotic and oxidative stress. In this study, oxidative stress response was evaluated during desiccation process. A higher activation of the oxidative defense system of P. putida correlate with higher survival. The findings of this work will be useful for the development of effective process production of microbial inoculants.