Actinobacteria and MOX Gas Sensors: An Integrated Approach to Enhance Plant Tolerance to Drought and Salt Stress

Dario Belmonte 
PhD Program: Technologies and Sciences for Human Health - University of Palermo -

November 12, 2025 (11:30-12:30)
Webinar Link: (not available yet)

Abstract: Actinobacteria are a group of Gram-positive bacteria primarily associated with soil and renowned for their ecological role and beneficial effects on plant growth. Through the production of bioactive metabolites (e.g., antibiotics, phytohormones and siderophores) these bacteria can compete with phytopathogens, stimulate plant growth by solubilizing nutrients such as phosphates and induce systemic tolerance to abiotic stresses. In the Mediterranean region, crops face significant challenges due to hot summers, poor rainfall and soil salinity, which severely impact productivity and growth. To address these issues, innovative and sustainable agricultural practices are urgently needed. In this context, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) such as Streptomyces violaceoruber and Kocuria rhizophila offer a promising solution. These strains were proven to influence tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) metabolism enhancing root and shoot development. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plants such as grapevines and tomato could serve as indicators of physiological status and stress responses. Using tailor-made metal oxide semiconductor (MOX) gas sensors, trained by machine learning algorithms, VOCs can be monitored in real time under stress conditions. Thus, greenhouse experiments and open field trials will be performed using genetically uniform model plants such as S. lycopersicum and V. vinifera under drought and/or salt stresses and inoculated by the selected PGPB S. violaceoruber and K. rhizophila. VOC production from inoculated and uninoculated plants will be comparatively monitored by using MOS gas sensors. The integration of the obtained data will enable the development of an innovative real-time monitoring platform, thus paving the way for sustainable and precision agriculture