Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF RHIZOBACTERIA CONTAINING ACC-DEAMINASE FOR PROMOTING GROWTH OF LENTIL SEEDLINGS UNDER AXENIC CONDITION

M. ZAFAR-UL-HYE, Z.A. ZAHIR^*, S.M. SHAHZAD, M. NAVEED, M. ARSHAD AND M. KHALID

Abstract: Nodulation and subsequent nitrogen fixation by lentil plants are inhibited by accelerated ethylene concentration in the root zone. Plant growth-promoting bacteria can help overcome these deleterious effects. Twenty seven isolates of rhizobacteria containing ACC-deaminase were isolated from the lentil rhizosphere by using dilution plate technique. A jar experiment was conducted under axenic condition for the screening of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria containing ACC-deaminase to promote growth of lentil seedlings. All the rhizobacterial isolates had the potential to modify the growth of lentil seedlings under axenic conditions. Results of jar study showed that inoculation with selected isolates increased the root length, shoot length, fresh root weight, fresh shoot weight, dry root weight and dry shoot weight of lentil seedlings up to 2.4, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 2.6 and 2.2 folds, respectively over uninoculated control. It is suggested that ACC-deaminase trait could be a useful approach for the screening of the effective PGPR to promote lentil growth under axenic conditions before testing their potential under natural conditions. The study also enabled us to select efficient PGPR isolates for co-inoculation with rhizobium to promote growth as well as nodulation in lentil grown in different regions of the country.

Institute of Soil & Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
E-mail: bio@fsd.paknet.com.pk