Alterations in the sap-associated microbiota of Carica papaya in response to drought stress

The alterations in the sap-associated microbiota of papaya plants were studied under drought-stress conditions. A major impact was found which revealed the replacement of several bacterial species by others associated with growth-promoting and stress functions. We propose that the changes found in the sap microbiota composition represent an adaptive mechanism which papaya plants utilize to cope water stress. The identified bacterial species could be exploited as potentially microbial biostimulants to enhance the response of plants to drought stress.