RESPONSE OF WHEAT TO INOCULATION WITH MYCORRHIZAE ALONE AND COMBINED WITH SELECTED RHIZOBACTERIA INCLUDING FLAVOBACTERIUM SP. AS A POTENTIAL BIOINOCULANT

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate different arbuscular mycorrhiza sps. (AM) for their effect on plant growth, yield and nutrient uptake by wheat. All the AM fungal sps. significantly enhanced all the plant parameters and nutrient uptake by the plant. A positive correlation was observed between percent root colonization by AM fungi and most of the plant parameters studied. Glomus macrocarpum giving best results was selected for studying interactive effect with Azotobacter, Azospirillum (well-known PGPRs), and Flavobacterium and Proteus vulgaris (less studied PGPRs). All the PGPRs significantly increased most of the plant parameters studied and their combination with AMF had a synergistic effect. Amongst PGPRs, Flavobacterium gave best response both singly and in combination with AMF and thus, is a potential new bioinoculant for wheat. Application of 120 kg nitrogen (N) ha⁻¹was the best treatment. Inoculation with most of the PGPRs gave better response than 60 kg N ha⁻¹.

Keywords:

• wheat
• Flavobacterium
• AM fungi
• plant growth promoting rhizobacteria
• dual inoculation
• plant growth
• N uptake
• P uptake
• grain yield