Impact of biofertilisers on iron homeostasis and grain quality in the rice variety Uma under Elevated CO ₂

The diminishing nutritional quality of rice with increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO ₂ is currently a major global concern. The present study was designed with the objective of assessing the impact of biofertilisers on grain quality and iron homeostasis in rice under elevated CO ₂. A completely randomised design with four treatments ([KAU, POP (control), POP+Azolla, POP+PGPR, and POP+AMF]), each replicated three times under ambient and elevated CO ₂ conditions, was followed. The analysed data revealed that yield, grain quality, and iron uptake and translocation were modified in an unfavourable manner under elevated CO ₂, which was reflected in the lower quality and iron content of the grains. The response of iron homeostasis in the experimental plants to the application of biofertilisers, especially plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), under elevated CO ₂ strongly suggests the possibility of utilising them for designing iron management strategies for achieving higher quality in rice.