Microbial Water Source for the Desert Plants

Finding water resources for the desert plants is one of the important research areas since it enables saving water resources. Bromus inermis plant was noticed to keep 5% of moisture in its rhizosphere zone; therefore, this study aimed to identify this source of water. Thirteen endophytic bacteria were isolated from the root of B. inermis and identified. Their specific respiration rate was determined. Alcaligenes faecalis showed the highest specific respiration rate. It is a facultative chemoautotrophic hydrogen-fixing bacterium that utilizes the hydrogen gas as energy source and the water is produced as an end product. The source of hydrogen gas for this bacterium is not only from air and soil gases but also from the hydrogen-producing bacteria such as Enterobacter spp., which was among the isolated bacteria. The hydrogenases synthesizing genes (HoxC, HypA and HypB) were detected in most of the isolated bacteria and roots of four wild plants, out from 18 wild plant samples, epically the grains of the wild wheat plant. This result suggests that the hydrogen-fixing and hydrogen-producing bacteria transfer from the root through the plant to inhabit the grain/seeds. This can help the grain/seeds to germinate in drought environment.