Klebsiella species known to exhibit important PGP traits like solubilization of phosphate, phytohormone production and good germination potential. In present study, based on the Phosphate solubilization and IAA production bacterial strain VRE36 was selected among the isolates collected from different sugarcane cultivar rhizosphere growing near Bardoli area for characterization and molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene sequence, which confirms the isolate as Klebsiella pneumoniae. The phosphate solubilization index of the isolate recorded was 3.9 and quantitative estimation reveals 17.4±1.78µg/ml release of phosphate in NBRIP broth. The high amount of IAA produced was 45.32±2.46µg/ml after 96 hour incubation at 37 °C. In seed germination assay with V radiate, C tetragonoloba and V unguiculata, treatments with bacteria were supported good plant height, dry weight and fresh weight when compared with controls. Maximum percentage of germination was recorded in V radiate (97.78%). The improved seedling parameters of the inoculated crop seeds indicated the potential of this isolate to be used in a bio-fertilizer formulation for sustainable production.

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Highlights A total of 226 isolates were screened against three strains (cfNAV, cfCHA and cf8436) of C. falcatum by dual culture technique. Selected Twenty-Six bacteria characterized of morphology, biochemical activity, PGP activity, antifungal potential and 16S rRNA gene sequence. These isolates belonged to proteobacteria (13), firmicutes (10) and bacterioidetes (03) respectively. Ochrobactrum intermedium (TRD14), Acinetobacter sp (PK9), Bacillus sp (RSC29 and KR91) and Escherichia sp (VRE34) selected for green house study. The most promising results in suppression of the disease as well as plant growth were observed in treatment withVRE34. The plant height and stem diameter were increased from 13.27 ± 0.67 inches to 24.03 ± 1.40 inches and from 6.07 ± 0.45 mm to 9.87 ± 0.93 mm. Isolates identified in this study could be used as an alternative to chemical fungicides to control red rot pathogen of sugarcane plants. However, detailed investigations on their inoculations in the field to confirm its growth promotion potency and biocontrol efficacy under natural environmental and soil conditions shall make these strains as important bioinoculants for integrated disease management of red rot disease in sugarcane.

Sugarcane is susceptible to red rot disease caused by phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum falcatum Went which ultimately affect the economy of farmers as well as sugar based industry. One of the various ways to control this devastating disease is to develop disease resistance sugarcane cultivar and this requires the complete understanding of genetic makeup of pathogen. Although South Gujarat is well known sugarcane cultivating area, less published data can be found about PCR-based genetic diversity in prevalent C. falcatum accessions. So, present investigation aims at finding molecular variation among the ten accessions of C. falcatum using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. A total of 35 RAPD and 39 ISSR primers were screened across 10 C. falcatum accessions, of which 15 RAPD and 21 ISSR primers have showed consistent amplification. Statistics related to genetic variation were estimated using NTSYS-PC by means of Dice’s coefficient. The results revealed 80.6% and 68.07% polymorphism and similarity coefficient ranged from 0.43 to 0.91 and 0.73 to 0.93 in RPAD and ISSR analysis respectively. The dendrogram generated using RAPD, ISSR and combined RAPD-ISSR grouped accessions into different clusters which reveal considerable level molecular variation among the C. falcatum accessions. It is also evident from PCA plots that accessions are rather dispersed with tested marker systems indicating good genetic base. So, in nut shell, we found considerable genetic variation and relatedness within C. falcatum accessions collected from different areas of south Gujarat, India using RAPD and ISSR markers.