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Screening and selection of Anabaena spp. for desiccation tolerance through physiological parameters and multivariate analysis

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Abstract

Increase in desiccation is one of the adverse impacts of global climate change that limits the growth of microorganisms including cyanobacteria. Reduction in growth and nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria due to desiccation is expected to severely restrict their application of cyanobacteria as biofertilizer. Therefore, in the present study the desiccation tolerance potential of ten different species of nitrogen fixing Anabaena strains commonly observed in rice fields was evaluated. The ten different species of Anabaena were grown in BG-11 medium supplemented with polyethylene glycol (10% w/v) and the desiccation tolerance potential was evaluated in terms of several important physiological parameters. Based on the physiological parameters and multivariate analysis the most desiccation tolerant species of Anabaena were identified. Desiccation-tolerant Anabaena fertilissima and Anabaena variabilis showed better growth, chlorophyll, carotenoid, sugar and protein content. They also accumulated the lowest levels of malondialdehyde and peroxides and showed higher superoxide dismutase activity. Physiological parameters such as carotenoid, sugar, nitrogenase activity and proline were also found to contribute significantly to the demarcation of Anabaena sp. and showed positive correlation with chlorophyll. The large diversity observed in the physiological parameters among the different species of Anabaena can be effectively used to screen and select desiccation-tolerant cyanobacteria as bio-inoculants to enhance desiccation tolerance in plants.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the authorities of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for facilities and encouragement.

Funding

SGR acknowledge the financial assistance received from PG School, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi in the form of research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    G. R. Sneha,  Annayya, Bipin Bihari Hembrom & Gerard Abraham

  2. Fishery Resources Assessment Division, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Ernakulam North, Kochi, 682018, Kerala, India

    Eldho Varghese

  3. School of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Ravindra Kumar Yadav

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  1. G. R. Sneha
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  2. Annayya
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  6. Gerard Abraham
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Contributions

GA conceived the idea planned the experiments and wrote the manuscript. EV helped in the statistical analysis, interpretation of the data. SGR maintained the cultures and performed the experiments and helped in organizing the manuscript. RKY, A and BBH assisted in the culturing and physiological analysis.

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Correspondence to Gerard Abraham.

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10811_2023_2942_MOESM1_ESM.doc

Supplementary file1 Supplementary Fig 1: Relative water content of Anabaena species under different levels of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). Values are mean±SE, n=6. (DOC 191 KB)

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Sneha, G.R., Annayya, Hembrom, B.B. et al. Screening and selection of Anabaena spp. for desiccation tolerance through physiological parameters and multivariate analysis. J Appl Phycol 35, 1273–1284 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-02942-z

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