Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Alex H Macwan, Harshaben N Shelat, Yogeshvari K Jhala and Sanjay N Shah

Abstract:
With an aim to find most efficient zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB), isolation was attempted from rhizospheric soil samples of Anand and Main Rice Research Station, Nawagam, wherein total 8 isolates were obtained on basal agar plates supplemented with 1% Zinc oxide and were screened qualitatively for zinc solubilization by observing halo on basal agar plates supplemented with ZnO, ZnCO₃ and Zn₃(PO₄). Further, six most efficient isolates were selected on the basis of lowering pH from 7 to 5 in basal broth ability. They were culturally and morphologically characterized. On the basis of qualitative and quantitative assay for zinc solubilization as well as other PGP traits The 3 strains were identified by molecular characterization; isolate ZSB A2, ZSB AF2 and ZSBA6 as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, AAUZSB A2 (ACCN ON080844), Pseudomonas taiwanensis AAUZSB AF2 (ACCN ON080840) and Beijerinckia fluminensis AAUZSB A6 (ACCN ON080839), respectively. All the three cultures were mutually compatible with each other in cross streak assay and a consortium was prepared combining each culture in equal proportion. Inoculation of ZSB alone and/or their consortium @ 5 mL/kg seed, in presence of either ZnSo₄ @ 25 kg/ha or Zn EDTA @ 1 kg/ha, increased plant growth and biomass yield of groundnut as compared to their respective controls.