Enhancing micronutrient uptake and yield of wheat through bacterial PGPR consortia

Abstract

A pot experiment was undertaken under net house conditions, with three rhizobacterial strains AW1 (Bacillus sp.), AW5 (Providencia sp.) and AW7 (Brevundimonas sp.), applied along with 2/3 recommended dose of nitrogen (N) and full dose of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers (N 90 P 60 K 60 ). An enhancement of 14-34% in plant biometric parameters and 28-60% in micronutrient content was recorded in treatments receiving the combination of AW1 þ AW5 strains, as compared to full dose of fertilizer application. The treatment involving inoculation with AW5 þ AW7 recorded highest values of % P and N, with a two-fold enhancement in phosphorus and 66.7% increase in N content, over full dose application of P and K fertilizers. A significant correlation was recorded between plant biomass, panicle weight, grain weight, N, P and iron (Fe) with acetylene reduction activity, indicating the significance of N fixation in overall crop productivity. Our study illustrates the multiple benefits of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation in integrated nutrient management and biofortification strategies for wheat crop.

Plant growth-promotion and biofortification of chickpea and pigeonpea through inoculation of biocontrol potential bacteria, isolated from organic soils

“…Further, siderophores forms stable complexes with heavy metals such as Ga, Zn, Al, Cu, U, Np, Cd, Pb and In and helps to alleviate the metal stresses imposed on plants (Rajkumar et al 2010). Rana et al (2012a, b) observed that a combination of PGP Bacillus sp. AW1 and Providencia sp.…”

“…are important (Weller et al 2002; Singh et al 2008; Soe et al 2010; Sreevidya and Gopalakrishnan 2016). PGP bacteria are also reported to enhance micronutrient uptake (mainly on iron and zinc) in the harvested grains of various crops including rice and wheat (Rana et al 2012a, b; Sharma et al 2013). This is achieved through the synthesis of various molecules such as siderophores, organic acids and exopolysaccharides by the PGP bacteria for increasing the mineral availability in the root-soil interface and further mobilization into plants.…”

Effects of Bacillus salmalaya Strain 139SI Inoculation on Yield and Nutrients Uptake of Oil Palm

“…In addition, previous research also found that inoculation of PGPR can enhance plant uptake of several other nutrients such as K, Mg, Ca, S, Cu, Mn and Zn (Karlidag et al, 2007;Meyer et al, 2007;Rana et al, 2012;Goteti et al, 2013). Usually, slightly decrease in soil pH improves solubilization of these nutrients.…”

“…As a comparison, a hectare of wheat required nutrient inputs of N, P, and K at 100 to 120, 60 to 75 and 50 to 60 kg/year, respectively (Khalid et al, 2004;Rana et al, 2012). While rice needed 100 to 180 kg/year of N, 50 to 100 kg/year of P and 60 to 120 kg/year of K for every hectare (Sagarika et al, 2015;Xu et al, 2015;Hoseinzade et al, 2016).…”

Perspective of beneficial microbes in agriculture under changing climatic scenario: a review

“…Plant nutrient management indicates the potentiality of effective microbials in increasing both macro-and micronutrients in the rhizosphere region (Rana et al, 2012) through change in total microbial community structure. The general mechanisms of plant nutrient management by microorganisms include associative nitrogen fixation, lowering of ethylene levels, production of siderophores and phytohormones, and production of growth regulators and VOCs, solubilization of nutrients, and promotion of mycorrhizal functioning.…”