Five bacterial strains with phosphate-solubilizing ability and other plant growth promoting traits increased the plant biomass (20-40%) by paper towel method. Glasshouse and field experiments were conducted using two efficient strains Serratia marcescens EB 67 and Pseudomonas sp. CDB 35. Increase in plant biomass (dry weight) was 99% with EB 67 and 94% with CDB 35 under glasshouse conditions. Increase in plant biomass at 48 and 96 days after sowing was 66% and 50% with EB 67 and 51% and 18% with CDB 35 under field conditions. Seed treatment with EB 67 and CDB 35 increased the grain yield of field-grown maize by 85% and 64% compared to the uninoculated control. Population of EB 67 and CDB 35 were traced back from the rhizosphere of maize on buffered rock phosphate (RP) medium and both the strains survived up to 96 days after sowing.
Two hundred and seven bacteria were isolated from composts and macrofauna and screened for plant growth promoting and antagonistic traits. Seven of the 207 isolates showed antagonistic activity against Sclerotium rolfsii in plate culture. Inhibition of S. rolfsii by the bacterial isolates ranged between 61 and 84%. Two of the seven isolates were Bacillus sp. and rest belonged to Pseudomonas sp. Two isolates, Pseudomonas sp. CDB 35 and Pseudomonas sp. BWB 21 was compatible with chickpea Rhizobium sp. IC 59 and IC 76 in plate culture conditions. Increase in plant biomass (dry weight) ranged between 18 and 30% on application of these bacteria by seed coating and seed priming methods. However, by seed-priming there was an increase in plant biomass by 5-7% compared to seed coating. Number of nodules and the nodule weight was similar by both seed coating and seed priming methods. Disease incidence was reduced up to 47% in treatments where captan (fungicide) or antagonistic Pseudomonas sp. CDB 35 was applied. Increase in shoot weight was 36% by seed coating with Rhizobium sp. IC 59 and Pseudomonas sp. CDB 35 when compared to captan application. Whereas by seed priming with IC 59 and CDB 35 increased shoot weight by 3 and 39% increase in nodulation was observed.
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