PJB-2017-738
Role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Tree Seed Germination and Growth – A first approach in Pakistan
Dr. Lubna Ansari
Abstract
ABSTRACT Trees are one of the sources of fodder for livestock and are also used for fuel wood and timber by the local communities. Pothwar Plateau is semiarid to sub-humid region with nutrients deficient soils that result in stunted tree growth. To address this problem, this piece of research was carried out with the objectives to: isolate rhizobial strains from tree rhizospheric soil and nodules, characterize bacteria using molecular and biochemical techniques, identifying most promising rhizobacteria by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Various forest areas of Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal were surveyed for the collection of rhizospheric soils and nodules from selected trees viz. Acacia modesta, A. nilotica, Albizzia lebbek and A. procera. The LB and YEM media were used for the isolation of rhizobial strains through dilution plate techniques. The same were purified and preserved in glycerol stocks for further use. The purified strains were characterized for different plant growth promoting activities like phosphorus solubilization, siderophore production, hydrogen cyanide production, catalase and oxidase test, gram staining, colony morphology, FT-IR analysis, protease activity of seeds, proline contents of bacteria and for indole acetic acid production. The potential PGPR was applied for tree germination and growth under pot and field conditions. Maximum number of leaflets, length of branches and seedling height was observed maximum in T3 with Bacillus stratosphericus while number of branches, length of branches and collar diameter were maximum in T2 and T1 with Achromobacter muciolens and Achromobacter xylosoxidans both under field conditions. It is concleded that through application of PGPR growth parameters can be enhanced. Data were analyzed by using statistica 8.1 and for comparisons of strains isolated. Least Sgnificant Differences Test (LSD) was performed.
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