Adsorption of Sodium Ions by Exopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas simiae MHR6 and Its Improvement of Na+/K+ Homeostasis in Maize under Salt Stress

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are macromolecular substances with environmentally beneficial properties. At present, some reports have focused on the effects of EPS on plants salt stress; however, few studies have carried out a deeper characterization of the EPS components involved in Na+ binding. We investigated the mechanism of Na+ adsorption by Pseudomonas simiae MHR6 EPS and the regulation of ion homeostasis in maize under salt stress. The results showed that NaCl at 6% significantly inhibited MHR6 growth but enhanced EPS secretion. The chemical composition of the EPS varied in response to an increased NaCl concentration, and the proportion of polysaccharides was consistently higher than that of proteins. The highest Na+ adsorption was observed for 6% NaCl. The FTIR, SEM, and EDX results further indicated that EPS effectively biosorbed Na+. Furthermore, adding EPS improved Na+/K+ homeostasis in maize under salt stress. These results suggest that MHR6 EPS has potential for future development and utilization as a plant growth biostimulant in saline-alkali land.