TITLE:
Effect of Different Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Maize Seed Germination and Seedling Development
AUTHORS:
Pacôme A. Noumavo, Eméric Kochoni, Yédéou O. Didagbé, Adolphe Adjanohoun, Marcellin Allagbé, Rachidatou Sikirou, Emma W. Gachomo, Simeon O. Kotchoni, Lamine Baba-Moussa
KEYWORDS:
Azospirillum; Pseudomonas; PGPR, Biofertlization; Maize Seeds; Germination; Greenhouse
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
29,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Our study aimed at assessing the
effects of 3 Plants Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) either singly or in
combination on maize growth under
laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Seeds were inoculated with single
and combined solution of 108 CFU/ml of Rhizobacteria. Seeds were not
inoculated for the control variant. The highest germination
percentage was obtained with the combination of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida. This combination also recorded
the best vigor index, plants circumferences number of leaves and the leaf area.
The maximal heights of plants were observed with seeds treated with Azospirillum lipoferum with an increase of 37.32%. The
highest rates of underground dry matter were recorded with A. lipoferum, with an increase of more than
56% comparative to control, while the combination P. fluorescens and P. putida increased the aerial dry matter
of 59.11%. Finally, the highest value of the aerial biomass was obtained with
the plants treated with the combination of P. fluorescens and P. putida and the highest underground
biomass was obtained with plants treated
only with A. lipoferum. These results suggest that specific combinations of PGPR can be
considered as efficient alternative biofertilizers to promote maize seed
germination, biomass and crop yield.