article · Microbial Cell Factories
Screening of multiple cyanobacterial isolates identified Synechococcus mundulus as the most effective producer of siderophores, reaching an initial production rate of 78 percent. Chemical characterisation confirmed that the organism yields a hydroxamate-type siderophore. Using response surface methodology to optimise culture conditions, siderophore production improved to 91.84 percent with a biomass yield of 387.11 milligrams per litre. Applying this isolated compound to maize seedlings in an iron-deficient hydroponic system significantly promoted seedling growth compared with untreated controls. Furthermore, the treated plants demonstrated elevated levels of iron, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, total carbohydrates, and total protein. These outcomes demonstrate that siderophores derived from cyanobacteria can actively facilitate iron uptake and physiological performance in crops subjected to nutrient-poor environments, providing a biological alternative to synthetic chelating agents.
Iron deficiency restricts crop growth and yields in nutrient-poor environments, often prompting reliance on synthetic chemical chelators. Identifying natural, microbially produced chelating agents offers an eco-friendly biological route to supply iron to vulnerable crops. This helps sustain plant development, enhances essential nutritional components such as proteins and carbohydrates, and reduces environmental burdens associated with synthetic agricultural inputs.
The findings suggest potential application as an active ingredient in bio-based iron fertilisers or crop biostimulants, of interest to agricultural input manufacturers. Because testing was conducted strictly on maize seedlings within a controlled hydroponic setting, the technology is at an applied, early-stage research level. Substantial validation through soil trials, formulation studies, and scaled cyanobacterial cultivation will be required before real-world commercialisation is feasible.
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Abstract Background In response to iron deficiency and other environmental stressors, cyanobacteria producing siderophores can help in ameliorating plant stress and enhancing growth physiological and biochemical processes. The objective of this work was to screen the potential of Arthrospira platensis , Pseudanabaena limnetica , Nostoc carneum , and Synechococcus mundulus for siderophore production to select the most promising isolate, then to examine the potentiality of the isolated siderophore in promoting Zea mays seedling growth in an iron-limited environment. Results Data of the screening experiment illustrated that Synechococcus mundulus significantly recorded the maximum highest siderophore production (78 ± 2%) while the minimum production was recorded by Nostoc carneum (24.67 ± 0.58%). Therefore, Synechococcus mundulus was chosen for the beneficiary study and the intended agricultural application. Siderophore-type identification tests proved that Synechococcus mundulus produced hydroxamate-type. The response surface approach was successful in optimizing the conditions of siderophore production in Synechococcus mundulus with actual values for maximum biomass (387.11 mg L − 1 ) and siderophore production (91.84%) higher than the predicted values. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) analysis data and the Fourier transformer-infrared spectrum analysis (FT-IR) signify the hydroxamate nature of Synechococcus mundulus isolated siderophore. Zea mays seedlings’ growth response in the hydroponic system was significantly stimulated in response to supplementation with Synechococcus mundulus siderophore in the absence of iron compared to plants grown without iron and the positive controls. Additionally, the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, total carbohydrates, and total protein were all surpassed in siderophore-treated plants, which is expected due to the increased iron content. Conclusions The results introduced in this study highlighted the significant potential of Synechococcus mundulus -derived siderophore in stimulating Zea mays physicochemical growth parameters and iron uptake. Findings of this study present novel visions of cyanobacteria producing siderophores as an ecofriendly alternative candidate to synthetic iron chelators and their role in plant stress management.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02618-4
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