Aims: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are commonly used as inoculants for improving the growth and yield of agricultural crops, however screening for the selection of effective PGPR strains is very critical. This study focuses on the screening of effective PGPR strains on the basis of their potential for in vitro auxin production and plant growth promoting activity under gnotobiotic conditions. Methods and Results: A large number of bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of wheat plants grown at different sites. Thirty isolates showing prolific growth on agar medium were selected and evaluated for their potential to produce auxins in vitro. Colorimetric analysis showed variable amount of auxins (ranging from 1AE1 to 12AE1 mg l )1 ) produced by the rhizobacteria in vitro and amendment of the culture media with L L-tryptophan (L L-TRP), further stimulated auxin biosynthesis (ranging from 1AE8 to 24AE8 mg l )1 ). HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of indole acetic acid (IAA) and indole acetamide (IAM) as the major auxins in the culture filtrates of these rhizobacteria. A series of laboratory experiments conducted on two cv. of wheat under gnotobiotic (axenic) conditions demonstrated increases in root elongation (up to 17AE3%), root dry weight (up to 13AE5%), shoot elongation (up to 37AE7%) and shoot dry weight (up to 36AE3%) of inoculated wheat seedlings. Linear positive correlation (r ¼ 0AE99) between in vitro auxin production and increase in growth parameters of inoculated seeds was found. Based upon auxin biosynthesis and growth-promoting activity, four isolates were selected and designated as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Auxin biosynthesis in sterilized vs nonsterilized soil inoculated with selected PGPR was also monitored that revealed superiority of the selected PGPR over indigenous microflora. Peatbased seed inoculation with selected PGPR isolates exhibited stimulatory effects on grain yields of tested wheat cv. in pot (up to 14AE7% increase over control) and field experiments (up to 27AE5% increase over control); however, the response varied with cv. and PGPR strains. Conclusions: It was concluded that the strain, which produced the highest amount of auxins in nonsterilized soil, also caused maximum increase in growth and yield of both the wheat cv. Significance and Impact of Study: This study suggested that potential for auxin biosynthesis by rhizobacteria could be used as a tool for the screening of effective PGPR strains.

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Aims:  This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the bacterial strains possessing 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC)‐deaminase activity may also promote growth of inoculated plants and could increase nodulation in legumes upon co‐inoculation with rhizobia. Methods and Results:  Several rhizobacteria were isolated from maize rhizosphere through enrichment on ACC as a sole N source. Purified isolates were screened for growth promotion in maize under axenic conditions and for in vitro ACC‐deaminase activity. A significant positive correlation was observed between in vitro ACC‐deaminase activity of bacterial cells and root elongation. None of the isolates produced auxins. Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum produced less amount of auxins but did not carry ACC‐deaminase activity. Results of pot experiment revealed that co‐inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates enhanced the nodulation in mung bean compared with inoculation with Bradyrhizobium alone. Conclusions:  It is highly expected that inoculation with rhizobacteria containing ACC‐deaminase hydrolysed endogenous ACC into ammonia and α‐ketobutyrate instead of ethylene. Consequently, root and shoot growth as well as nodulation were promoted. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The ACC‐deaminase trait could be employed as an efficient tool to screen effective PGPR, which could be successfully used as biofertilizers to increase the growth of inoculated plants as well as nodulation in legumes.