Characterization of Plant Growth-Promoting Activity of Bacteria Isolated from Forest and Coastal Regions of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The haphazard application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides causes tremendous damage to ecosystems and all biota. One of the most effective ways to tackle the threat is to use biofertilizer. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are an important bacterial source for microbial fertilizers that can boost agricultural yields by encouraging plant growth. Bacterial isolates isolated from Saurashtra region, Gujarat, India were analysed for their capability to solubilize inorganic 'P' from tri calcium phosphate and production of indole acetic acid (IAA) quantitatively by bacterial. Production of ammonia, siderophore and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) by selected isolates was analysed. Biochemical characterization of selected bacterial isolates was done using Vitek 2 Compact system. Isolate GFS15C2 showed highest amount of phosphate solubilization, followed by isolate GFS07C1 and GFS01C1. Bacterial isolate GFS15C2 produced highest amount of IAA. All bacterial isolates were able produce ammonia. Eight bacteria isolates were be to produce HCN. Siderophore was produced by 14 bacterial isolates. In biochemical characterization all the bacterial isolates were able to use D-glucose. Based on biochemical characters clustering of bacteria isolates was done using Paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis(PAST). Using cluster analysis by euclidean distance method based on biochemical characterization isolates GFS16C2 & SCS12C3 was found to have distinct characters than other isolates. The present study attempts to characterize PGPB which could be harnessed to improve plant growth. Several phosphate solubilizers and IAA producers also showed production of siderophores and HCN which suggests that these organisms do possess biocontrol ability. These PGPB microbial inoculants can be utilized to improve agricultural systems or as an alternate means of environmentally friendly plant disease biocontrol.