IN VITRO SCREENING OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA FROM THE RHIZOSPHERIC SOILS OF WHEAT IN THE NORTHWEST REGION OF WESTERN HIMALAYAS

Abstract

Plant growth promoting bacteria are bacteria that colonize the root surfaces and closely adhere to the soil interface, known as the rhizosphere. In the present study PGPR’s were isolated from agricultural field of wheat (Triticum aestivum) Salouni and Ladraur sites of Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. Total 20 bacterial isolates were isolated from two different sites. In vitro screening was used to identify the potential of isolates as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculants based on their capacity to solubilizer phosphate, protease production (lytic enzyme), and HCN synthesis. Out of 20 bacterial isolates, selected seven bacterial isolates were inoculate into carrier (cocopeat powder and charcoal powder). The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize the most potent PGPR, as well as to evaluate their performance in terms of HCN production, protease production, and P-solubilization, and making consortia-based bioformulation by using these selected bacterial isolates. In this investigation, we evaluated the plant growth promoting activity of two different carriers such as charcoal and cocopeat based formulation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.