Application of inorganic carrier-based formulations of fluorescent pseudomonads and Piriformospora indica on tomato plants and evaluation of their efficacy

Abstract

Aims: Fluorescent pseudomonads are widely used as bioinoculants for improving plant growth and controlling phytopathogenic fungi. Piriformospora indica (Pi), a symbiotic root endophyte, also has beneficial effects on a number of plants. The present study focuses on the improvement of growth yields of tomato plants and control of Fusarium wilt using inorganic carrier‐based formulations of two fluorescent pseudomonad strains (R62 and R81) and Pi. Methods and Results: The inorganic carrier‐based formulations of pseudomonad strains and Pi were tested for plant growth promotion of tomato plants under glass house and field conditions. In controlled glass house experiments, 8·8‐fold increase in dry root weight and 8·6‐fold increase in dry shoot weight were observed with talcum powder‐based consortium formulation of R81 and Pi. Field trial experiments ascertained the glfass house results with a considerable amount of increase in plant growth responses, and amongst all the treatments, R81 + Pi treatment performed consistently well in field conditions with an increase of 2·6‐, 3·1‐ and 3·9‐fold increase in dry root weight, shoot weight and fruit yield, respectively. The fluorescent pseudomonad R81 and Pi also acted as biocontrol agents, as their treatments could control the incidence of wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici in tomato plants under glass house conditions. Conclusions: The culture broths of pseudomonads R62, R81 and Pi were successfully used for development of talcum‐ and vermiculite‐based bioinoculant formulations. In controlled glasshouse experiments, the talcum‐based bioinoculant formulations performed significantly better over vermiculite‐based formulations. In field experiments the talcum‐based consortium formulation of pseudomonad R81 and Pi was most effective. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests that the formulations of pseudomonad strains (R62 and R81) and Pi can be used as bioinoculants for improving the productivity of tomato plants. The application of such formulations is a step forward towards sustainable agriculture.

Effect of formulated root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria fluorescent pseudomonads R62 and R81 on Vigna mungo

“…Due to its closeness with AMF, Pi seems to have had a similar effect on growth of V. mungo plants in association with R62 and R81. The results obtained in the present study are in agreement with the results reported in a recent study by Sarma et al (2011) who investigated the effects of Pi and PGPR strains R62 and R81 on the growth of tomato plant, and also obtained the best results with the bio-inoculant formulation containing the consortium of Pi and R81.…”

“…The broth, containing additives, was mixed uniformly on a vortex mixer. Then inorganic carrier-based formulations of PGPR strains were prepared by mixing 20 ml of above mentioned broth with 80 g of sterilized carriers (Vidhyasekaran and Muthamilan 1995; Sarma et al 2011). The talcum powder-based formulations contained 2.5 9 10 10 and 6.3 9 10 10 cfu/g of R62 and R81 strains, respectively, whereas vermiculite-based formulations contained 3.0 9 10 10 and 2.4 9 10 10 cfu/g of R62 and R81 strains, respectively .…”

Connotation of Enterobacter cloacae-W6 and Serratia ficaria-W10 with or without carriers for improving growth, yield and nutrition of wheat

“…These high cell numbers could be beneficial for improving the productivity of agricultural crops. In a similar study, Sarma et al (2011) examined talcum and vermiculite based formulations of pseudomonas strains R62, R81 and Pi either in combinations or alone. They recorded a significant increases in growth and yield of tomato due to the application of (R81×Pi) talcum based formulation.…”

Downstream processing of mosquitocidal toxins from solid state fermentation of Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

“…Talcum powder is used as an anti-sticking agent, an anti-caking agent, a carrier, a thickener, smooth filler and an adsorbent (EUROTALC 2017). Talcum powder was reported as a good carrier material for formulation of many bio-pesticides (Boyetchko et al, 1999;Brar et al, 2006;Sarma et al, 2011;Ritu et al, 2012;Tripathi et al, 2015;Private Pesticide Applicator Safety Education Mannual, 2015). …”