PJB-2019-402
Effect of plant growth promoting bacteria and drought on spring maize (Zea mays L.)
Muhammad Mubeen, Asghari Bano, Barkat Ali, Zia Ul Islam, Ashfaq Ahmad, Sajjad Hussain, Shah Fahad and Wajid Nasim
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the affectivity of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on some biochemical and agronomic parameters of maize exposed to drought stress. Two PGPR species viz. Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas putida were applied as bioinoculant. Different methods of application of PGPR were used at different developmental stages of maize growth namely: M1: Untreated seeds (no treatment with PGPR); M2: Seeds soaked in the broth culture (7 day old) of the PGPR for 2-3 hours at room temperature prior to sowing; M3: Foliar spray of PGPR at 3-4 leaf stage of plants; M4: Broth culture (7 day old) incorporated to the soil in rhizosphere at 40 days after sowing (DAS). Results revealed that P. putida was more effective for the increase of chlorophyll content and showed linear increase in TDM (total day matter), higher CGR (crop growth rate), grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) for TDM than B. cereus. PGPR application in the rhizosphere and foliar spray were more efficient for grain yield and WUE for TDM. However, foliar spray of PGPR showed maximum harvest index. So, it is recommended that foliar spray of PGPR at 3-4 leaf stage is a good strategy for getting higher maize yields. Water stress at blister was found to be more detrimental for spring maize crop. In our study, the effect of PGPR was maximized at 60 DAS
To Cite this article:
Mubeen, M., A. Bano, B. Ali, Z.U. Islam, A. Ahmad, S. Hussain, S. Fahad and W. Nasim. 2021. Effect of plant growth promoting bacteria and drought on spring maize (Zea mays L.). Pak. J. Bot., 53(2): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2021-2(38)
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