Response of Microbial Consortia Culture Inoculation to Soil Moisture Status, Proline and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolar L.)

Abstract

Plant secondary metabolites play vital role in plant stress response. In this study we investigated root colonization of sorghum (Sorghum bicolar) infected by two different types of microbial consortia culture (MC1 & MC2) leads to alteration in the biosynthesis of secondary plant metabolites including phytoharmones and osmolyte proline under drought stress. The promising microbial consortia procured from authentic sources (Department of Microbiology CRIDA, Hyderabad and that consortia culture contain mixture of effective beneficial microbes such as N-fixing bacteria, PGPR and mycorrhizal fungi). Application of microbial consortia culture through soil application and seed treatment to sorghum along with Recommended Dose Of Fertilizer (RDF) showed increased soil moisture content and chlorophyll pigments as compared to uninoculated controls as well as drought stressed plants. Proline content was increased in plants inoculated with microbial consortia under both normal as well as drought conditions. An obvious increase grain yield and dry matter yield through application of microbial consortia with soil application and seed treatments in normal and drought condition respectively.