MULTITRAIT PGPRS AS POTENTIAL INOCULANTS FOR COTTON PLANT

In soil, plant growth depends on many biotic and abiotic factors. The plant rhizosphere supports large and active microbial population because of root exudation. These naturally occurring root bacteria are beneficial for plant growth vizdirectly and indirectly known as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Our study includes isolation and screening of rhizobacteria from nonrhizospheirc and rhizospheric soil of cotton plant. We have found total 60 isolates. These isolates were tested in vitro for specific PGPR traits such as nutrient solubilzation (Phosphorus, Potassium), and different biocontrol activity tests (Antifungal activity, Ammonia production, HCN production, Siderophores Production). Out of all, four isolates (Bacillus cereus, Ensiferglycinis, Stenotrophomonasrhizophila, Staphylococcushaemolyticus) were found to be promising for most of plant growth promoting traits. These PGPR were used as bioinoculant for cotton seeds and not for control sample. The seeds inoculation with PGPRs affected germination rate and seedling vigour index. The higher germination rate (75%) and seedling vigour index (825) were obtained with PGPRs treated seeds where as in control it was 56.25% and 506.25 respectively. Results suggest that combination of multitraits PGPRs can be considered as alternative biofertilizer and biopesticide to promote cotton seed germination, crop yield and act as an alternative to chemical fertilizer.