The Effect of Some Endophytic Bacteria on Seedling Growth and Physiological Properties of Salvia officinalis L.

Abstract

In order to meet the demand for medicinal sage (Salvia officinalis L.), which is an important economic product, harvesting from nature has economic value. However, it may not always be of the desired standard and quality. Also, the harvesting from nature endangers their natural population causing their genetic base to decline. For this reason, it is important to produce it in an agrosystem and to increase yield in a sustainable way. In this study, the effects of eleven endophyte bacteria (EB) isolates applications on the development, morphology, and physicochemical properties of Salvia officinalis L. were investigated by climate chamber experiments. Peat+perlite+soil (1:1:2) mixture was used as the growing medium and EB was applied two times by soaking method. Effects of EB applications on shoot/root length, root/stem fresh and dry weight, Dualex values (Nitrogen balance index (NBI), flavonol, anthocyanin, and chlorophyll), leaf area, leaf temperature and color values (L*, a) *, b * C and Hue° were examined. All EB applications increased the plant height and leaf area. Also, the majority of EB isolates enhanced the root dry weight. The effect of EB applications on flavonol and chlorophyll content was not found statistically significant. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the nitrogen balance index (NBI). It was also observed that EB applications caused changes in plant color. According to the results obtained, it has been seen that it is possible to produce environmentally friendly and sustainable medicinal sage with appropriate plant-bacteria combinations.