The experimental plants sprouted successfully, with 100% germination being recorded – an important prerequisite for the reliable conduct of the experiment.
However, the most important part is yet to come. In the next phase, the plants will be re-treated with the growth-stimulating bacterium Bacillus megaterium, after which they will be placed under controlled conditions of water stress. It is then that it will become clear to what extent the beneficial microorganisms can help maize adapt to drought.
In parallel with the main experiment under the project, the wild relatives of maize – Tripsacum dactyloides and Zea perennis – have already been sown. Their development and assessment of their potential as a valuable genetic resource for increasing the resistance of cultivated maize are to be monitored.
The upcoming analyses of the growth, physiological and biochemical indicators will provide valuable information about the potential of Bacillus megaterium as a natural ally for increasing the resistance of plants in the conditions of climate change
