Bacillus megaterium Compensates for Growth Inhibition from Phosphorus Deficiency by Improving Photosynthetic Capacity, Changing Antioxidant Potential, and Regulating Non-Structural Carbohydrate Concentrations in Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Yali Zhang; Jing Gao; Rui Li; Yonggang Yan; Gang Zhang; Nan Wang; Wenbo Wang; Jiakun Yan

doi:10.9755/ejfa.2023.3200

Authors

Yali Zhang College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Qinling Application Development and Engineering Center of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xianyang, China. Key Laboratory for Research and Development of "Qin Medicine" of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xi’an, China. Health Department, Shaanxi Fashion Engineering University, Xi’an, 712046, China
Jing Gao College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Qinling Application Development and Engineering Center of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xianyang, China. Key Laboratory for Research and Development of "Qin Medicine" of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xi’an, China
Rui Li College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Qinling Application Development and Engineering Center of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xianyang, China. Key Laboratory for Research and Development of "Qin Medicine" of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xi’an, China
Yonggang Yan College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Qinling Application Development and Engineering Center of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xianyang, China. Key Laboratory for Research and Development of "Qin Medicine" of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xi’an, China.
Gang Zhang College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Qinling Application Development and Engineering Center of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xianyang, China. Key Laboratory for Research and Development of "Qin Medicine" of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 712046, Xi’an, China.
Nan Wang Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, 712083, Xianyang, China.
Wenbo Wang Department of Life Sciences, Xianyang Normal University, 712000, Xianyang, China
Jiakun Yan College of Life Science, Yulin University, 719000, Yulin, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2023.3200

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of Bacillus megaterium on seedling growth of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. under control and phosphorus (P) deficiency conditions. The results showed that P deficiency improved 1) G. uralensis root growth, 2) superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities, 3) inorganic P, starch, and soluble sugar contents in roots, 4) dissipated energy flux per reaction center, trapped energy flux per reaction center, and absorption flux per reaction center, and 5) net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, maximum fluorescence intensity after dark adaptation, and variable fluorescence. However, P deficiency significantly decreased chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in G. uralensis, but enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in B. megaterium. Our findings on the regulatory mechanisms of B. megaterium in response to P starvation hold promise for improving the success of G. uralensis cultivation.

Keywords: Bacillus megaterium; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch; Phosphorus deficiency; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Antioxidant enzymes superoxide; Non-structural carbohydrate