PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA (PGPB) ENHANCE GROWTH AND YIELD OF STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on growth, yield and physicochemical quality attributes of strawberry cultivars. Runners of three commercial strawberry cultivars, viz. ‘Chandler’, ‘Tuft’s’ and ‘Camarosa’ were acquired from a certified runner supplier in Swat, KPK, Pakistan and were planted in 10 cm plastic pots. Three plant growth promoting bacterial isolates, viz. Pseudomonas fluorescens (T1), Bacillus subtilis (T2) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (T3) were applied after two weeks of runners planting with no PGPB application as control (T0). Results revealed that plants supplied with Bacillus subtilis (T2) had highest number of leaves per plant (38.33), leaf area index (41.69 cm2), crown diameter (1.36 cm), number of runners (5.42), fruit set (86.11%), average yield (226.97 g), soluble solid contents (SSC) (8.430Brix), ascorbic acid (49.98 mg 100 mL-1), total sugars (5.72%) and Anthocyanin contents (37.55 mg 100 mL-1), while minimum plant growth and physicochemical characteristics were recorded for plants with no PGPB (control). Among cultivars, ‘Chandler’ responded better to PGPB application compared to two other cultivars. Therefore, use of PGPB, particularly Bacillus subtilis, has the potential to affect growth, yield and physicochemical quality characteristics of strawberry cultivars and may be used by strawberry growers for lowering fertilizer cost by alternating with organic PGPB to enhance the growth and yield of strawberry.