Peanut plants face a double challenge—drought stress and phosphorus deficiency—but researchers in Argentina have found a biological solution.
A study published in Symbiosis (2025) by scientists from the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto demonstrates that native drought-tolerant phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can significantly enhance peanut growth and stress resilience.
The research tested five native bacterial strains, including Pseudomonas sp. SAS7, Pseudomonas sp. NVAM24, and Enterobacter sp. J49, under conditions mimicking severe drought using polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). The selected strains not only survived osmotic stress but also maintained their ability to solubilize phosphorus—an essential nutrient often locked in soil minerals.
When inoculated into peanut plants under combined drought and phosphorus deficiency, the bacteria dramatically improved plant health. Plants treated with Pseudomonas sp. SAS7 and Enterobacter sp. J49 exhibited up to 20% higher shoot biomass, enhanced root growth, and a greater number of nitrogen-fixing nodules compared to uninoculated controls.
These results highlight how native drought-tolerant PSB can serve as sustainable biofertilizers, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and helping legumes thrive in semi-arid, phosphorus-poor soils.
The researchers conclude that leveraging beneficial microbes represents a promising step toward climate-resilient agriculture and eco-friendly soil fertility management.
Reference
Lopez, A., Anzuay, M. S., Loser, U. A., Taurian, T., & Furlan, A. L. (2025). The combined effects of drought stress and phosphorus deficiency on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants are mitigated by drought tolerant phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. Symbiosis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-025-01080-z
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