Effects of PGPR on growth and photosynthetic pigment of Trigonella foenum-graceum and Brassica juncea in PAH-contaminated soil

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and photosynthetic pigment of two plant species, Trigonella foenum-graceum (methi) and Brassica juncea (mustard), grown in PAH-contaminated saline soil. Pot experiments were conducted for 30 days with the selected plant species in saline soil artificially supplemented with phenanthrene (5, 50, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and naphthalene (5, 50, 200 and 400 mg/kg). After 30 days of growth, both plants were evaluated for morphological changes including root and shoot length and biomass of mucilaginous material using three-way ANOVA and Duncan’s new multiple range test (P ≤ 0.05). Experimental results clearly indicated that PGPR had a positive impact on overall growth as compared to the non-PGPR-treated plant species.