THE APPLICATION OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA AS BIOFERTILIZER FOR CEREAL CROPS (WHEAT, RICE AND MAIZE) OF DISTRICT SWAT, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN
Loading...
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Center of Biotechnology
Abstract
The present study was conducted to isolate and characterize Plant Growth Promoting
Rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the rhizosphere of cereal crops at Swat and to assess their
impact on plant growth when used as inoculants. A total of 18 bacterial strains were
isolated from roots and rhizosphere of cereal crops. On the basis of colony and cell
morphology, 4 strains were identified as Azospirillum, 11 as Pseudomonas strains and
three strains remained un-identified. With the exception of 3 strains, all isolates showed
IAA production in pure culture. Three bacterial strains (Azospirillum brasilense strain
R1, Azospirillum lipoferum strain RSWT1 and Pseudomonas strain Ky1) were used to
inoculate two varieties of wheat (Inqilab 91 and Fakhre Sarhad), two varieties of rice
(Fakhre Malakand and JP 5) and one variety of maize (Pahari) at two experimental sites
in Swat (ARIN Mingora and Udigram). Among the bacterial strains tested in the present
study, Azospirillum brasilense strain R1 was more effective in plant growth promotion
than other strains for both wheat and rice varieties. Azospirillum lipoferum strain RSWT1
showed more positive response than other strains on the yield and growth of maize
variety Pahari. The plant height of wheat variety Inqilab 91 was significantly increase up
to 18.5 % with Azospirillum brasilense strain R1 as compared to non-inoculated control
ones. The increase in plant height with Azospirillum lipoferum strain RSWT1 was 14.7 %
and with Pseudomonas Ky1 9.6 %. The number of grains/spike, root and shoot weight
and biological yield of the plants inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense strain R1,
Azospirillum lipoferum strain RSWT1 and Pseudomonas Ky1 were significantly greater
as compared to control treatment.