Lactic acid bacteria protect the growth of Solanum lycopersicum from Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), used in various detergents, deters the growth of many plants when it remains in soil from cleaning. Plants are likely to be exposed to SDS because it could be washed down the drain and end up in the waterways. To protect plants from environmental hazards and to promote plant growth, it is critical to reduce the phytotoxicity of SDS. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), a special type of probiotic, have been shown to protect plants from various chemical hazards and boost plant growth. In this study, we hypothesized that LAB could play a role in supporting plant growth against SDS-induced stress based on the multiple plant-proliferation capabilities of LAB. We measured tomato growth in Petri dishes and soil in terms of the germination rate, weight, and length of the sprouts. In Petri dishes, SDS significantly reduced the germination rate and growth of tomato sprouts at concentrations of 0.8 mM. Tomato seeds grown in 0.8 mM SDS solution resulted in a 46% and 48% reduction in sprout length and weight, respectively, compared to the non-treated group. Incubation with 5 million CFUs/mL LAB and 0.8 mM SDS reduced the length and weight of the tomato sprouts by just 6% and 20%, respectively, compared to the non-treated group. In soil culture, the addition of 10 million CFUs/mL LAB to 5 mM SDS solution increased the germination rate and plant growth compared to the SDS-only group. This finding suggests that LAB can help plants sustain in environments contaminated by detergents containing SDS.