​Two types of bacteria known for their growth-promoting properties improved chili plant resistance to drought. They do this partially through their role in over-activating a pump present in the vacuolar membrane of root cells that ultimately facilitates water uptake from soil.

Microbial ecologist, Daniele Daffonchio, and colleagues at KAUST and in Italy investigated whether bacteria that can confer drought resistance in plants have an effect on a cellular vacuolar proton pump that helps roots take up more water from the soil.

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Image: The chili plants inoculated with the two bacteria (right top and bottom) grew well under drought conditions compared to noninoculated plants.
Reproduced with permission from reference 1 © 2018 Ramona Marasco