Alleviation of heat stress by ACC Deaminase and Exopolysaccharide Producing Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria in Solanum melongena L

Background: The current study was carried out to assess the alternative role of high temperature tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in alleviation of heat stress adverse effect in eggplant. Methods: PGPR was assessed for PGP potentialities and investigated for1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC deaminase), and exopolysaccharide under normal and high temperature environment. The impact of PGPR application on plant physiology and biochemistry was investigated under normal and high temperature environments and plant growth regulators were evaluated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results: A significant impediment for morphological and physiological parameters of eggplant cultivars was observed during heat stress in absence of PGPR inoculation. The results showed that ACC-deaminase produced by PGPR boosted up significantly the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) accumulation, conversion of ACC into α-ketobutyrate and ammonia, and reduce consequently the impact of high temperature on eggplant development. Conclusion: PGPR inoculation showed an alternative strategy to improve eggplant growth and development under high temperature condition in order to preserve agriculture sustainability and healthy crops.