Mitigation of the negative effect of auxinic herbicide by bacterial suspension of Pseudomonas protegens DA1.2 in wheat plants under drought conditions

Effect of auxin-producing bacterial strain (Pseudomonas protegens DA1.2) was investigated under conditions of drought and herbicide treatment in wheat plants. Positive effect of the bacterial suspension on wheat plants treated with auxinic herbicide under drought conditions was manifested in reducing the content of malondialdehyde and proline, preventing inhibition of plant growth and normalizing chlorophyll content. Under combined stress, changes in concentrations and redistribution of phytohormones in plants were detected. An imbalance in auxin distribution between shoots and roots could be the reason for the decrease in plant resistance to drought in combination with the herbicide. Treatment of plants with the bacterial suspension restored normal shoot-to-root ratio of auxins in plants. Thus, this bacterial strain showed the properties of synthetic auxin antidotes and can be recommended for optimizing the technology of herbicide application under drought conditions.