Role of the Pseudomonas koreensis BB2.A.1 and Serratia liquefaciens BB2.1.1 Bacterial Strains in Maize Trace Metal Stress Management

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in addition to their well-known direct effects on plant growth and development, have been reported to be effective in plant abiotic (trace metal, drought, etc.) and biotic (phytopathogens, insects, etc.) stress management. PGPRs are involved in shaping the fate of trace metals in the rhizosphere and plants and thus may also reduce trace metal stress in plants. The aims of our study were to isolate and select indigenous trace-metal-resistant PGP strains and investigate their effects on maize germination and early development. The roles of the two selected strains, <i>Pseudomonas koreensis</i> and <i>Serratia liquefaciens</i> isolated from trace-metal-contaminated soil were investigated to mitigate trace metal stress in 21-day-old <i>Zea mays</i> seedlings. In the present study, 13 bacterial strains were isolated and screened for PGP traits under normal and trace metal stress conditions. The effect of two selected strains was further studied on plant experiments. The germination process, plant growth parameters (length, weight, dry matter content), photosynthetic activity, GPOX activity, trace metal accumulation, and translocation in microbes inoculated Cd (0.5 mM), Zn (1 mM), and Cd + Zn (0.1 + 0.5 mM) treated maize plants was studied. Our results revealed that trace metal toxicity, in terms germination and growth parameters and antioxidant enzyme activity, was enhanced upon inoculation with <i>Pseudomonas koreensis</i> BB2.A.1. Chlorophyll content and accumulation studies showed enhanced results following inoculation with <i>Serratia liquefaciens</i> BB2.1.1. Therefore, both bacterial strains possessed beneficial traits that enabled them to reduce metal toxicity in maize.