Enhancing total lipid and stearidonic acid yields in Buglossoides arvensis through PGPR inoculation.

AIM: This study was performed to identify bacterial isolates capable of enhancing total lipid and stearidonic acid (SDA) yields in Buglossoides arvensis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Pot experiments were conducted to screen the effects of 40 bacterial isolates on different B. arvensis growth parameters. Five isolates increased total lipid and SDA yields by at least 20%. These isolates were tested in a second pot experiment and in field trials. The second pot experiment confirmed that all isolates significantly increased total lipid and SDA yields over controls. Plants inoculated with four bacterial strains experienced significantly higher shoot weights, however, the increase in shoot weight decreased over time. Three isolates led to higher total seed numbers. In field trials, the inoculations had no significant effect on seed or lipid yields. However, isolate Pseudomonas fluorescens LBUM677 significantly increased SDA yield by 33% as compared to control plants. This strain was also the most efficient biofilm producer.

CONCLUSIONS: Pseudomonas fluorescens LBUM677 can significantly increase SDA yield in B. arvensis under controlled and field conditions.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Using bacterial strains to increase plant yield is of great interest under commercial settings. Pseudomonas fluorescens LBUM677 shows promise to promote SDA accumulation in B. arvensis under production conditions.