The study, published in the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, found that treating plants with the probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis increased the production of plant hormones called salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. These hormones are involved in regulating plant immunity and defense against pathogens.
"Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which probiotics can enhance plant immunity," said study senior author Dr. Harsh Bais, a professor of plant pathology at NC State. "We found that probiotics can directly interact with plant roots and trigger immune responses that lead to increased disease resistance."
The researchers treated Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant that is often used as a model organism in plant biology, with Bacillus subtilis. They then exposed the plants to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, which causes a leaf spot disease.
The researchers found that plants treated with Bacillus subtilis were more resistant to the pathogen than untreated plants. They also found that the treated plants produced higher levels of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid.
"These findings suggest that probiotics can be used as a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to enhance plant immunity and crop protection," Bais said. "This approach could reduce the need for chemical pesticides and antibiotics, which can have negative impacts on the environment and human health."
The researchers are currently investigating the potential of using probiotics to improve the resistance of crops to other diseases. They are also working to identify the specific factors produced by probiotics that are responsible for triggering plant immune responses.
"Ultimately, we aim to develop probiotic formulations that can be applied to crops in the field to improve their resistance to pests and diseases," Bais said. "This could lead to increased crop yields and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment."
