EFFECT OF BACTERIAL ENDOPHYTES ISOLATED FROM THE CITRUS ON THE PHYSICAL PARAMETER OF BITTER GOURD (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L.)

Bacterial endophytes have a symbiotic relationship between different parts of the plant and could play an important role to improve plant health. The effects of endophytic bacterial communities in bitter gourd have not been studied yet in Pakistan. In the present study, ten different bacteria that belong to class Alpha, beta and gamma Proteobacteria as well as bacilli were injected into bitter gourd seedlings under glass house conditions and five weeks after physical parameters (SL, RL, leaf area, leaf number, wet and dry weight of plant, root and shoot ratio) were studied. According to results Azomonas agilis and Ensifer adhaerens give good results as compared to control for all parameters studied. These inoculants could be used as bio fertilizer for sustainable crop production system.