AUTHOR=Qadir Muhammad , Hussain Anwar , Shah Mohib , Hamayun Muhammad , Iqbal Amjad , Irshad Muhammad , Ahmad Ayaz , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Ali Sajid 

TITLE=Staphylococcus arlettae mediated defense mechanisms and metabolite modulation against arsenic stress in Helianthus annuus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1391348

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1391348

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Arsenate, a metalloid, acting as an analog to phosphate, has a tendency to accumulate more readily in plant species, leading to adverse effects.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In the current study, sunflower seedlings were exposed to 25, 50 and 100 ppm of the arsenic.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Likewise, a notable reduction (p&lt;0.05) was observed in the relative growth rate (RGR) by 4-folds and net assimilation rate (NAR) by 75% of <italic>Helianthus annuus</italic> when subjected to arsenic (As) stress. Nevertheless, the presence of <italic>Staphylococcus arlettae</italic>, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium with As tolerance, yielded an escalation in the growth of <italic>H. annuus</italic> within As-contaminated media. <italic>S. arlettae</italic> facilitated the conversion of As into a form accessible to plants, thereby, increasing its uptake and subsequent accumulation in plant tissues. <italic>S. arlettae</italic> encouraged the enzymatic antioxidant systems (Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT)) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (flavonoids, phenolics, and glutathione) in <italic>H. annuus</italic> seedlings following substantial As accumulation. The strain also induced the host plant to produce osmolytes like proline and sugars, mitigating water loss and maintaining cellular osmotic balance under As-induced stress. <italic>S. arlettae</italic> rectified imbalances in lignin content, reduced high malonaldehyde (MDA) levels, and minimized electrolyte leakage, thus counteracting the toxic impacts of the metal.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The strain exhibited the capability to concurrently encourage plant growth and remediate Ascontaminated growth media through 2-folds rate of biotransformation and bio-mobilization.</p></sec>