Functional auxin signaling and phosphorus acquisition triggered in planta by the extremophile bacterium Pseudomonas extremaustralis

Abstract

Pseudomonas extremaustralis 14-3b, a strain isolated from Antarctica, was evaluated for plant-growth-promoting traits under different oxygen conditions. Genomic analysis revealed genes related to phosphorus solubilization and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis. In vitro assays confirmed its ability to solubilize tricalcium phosphate and produce gluconic acid. IAA production was higher under microaerobic conditions compared to aerobic cultures. Using Arabidopsis thaliana DII-VENUS reporter lines, we confirmed in vivo IAA perception in roots, with reduced VENUS fluorescence upon bacterial inoculation, regardless of prior oxygen conditions. Confocal microscopy showed root surface colonization and internal localization in cotyledons, including sub-stomatal spaces. Morphological changes in A. thaliana included reduced primary root length and increased root hair length. In wheat, P. extremaustralis exhibited chemotaxis toward root exudates and colonized root tissues. After 30 days in pot experiments, inoculated wheat plants showed significantly higher stem dry weight and leaf phosphorus content than control plants. These findings indicate that P. extremaustralis promotes plant growth through multiple mechanisms, supporting its potential as a bioinoculant under variable environmental conditions, including low oxygen availability.