Growth stimulation of clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) by coinoculation with rhizosphere bacteria and Rhizobium

Abstract

Clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is an important commercially utilizable crop grown in arid zone of India. Microorganisms present in the rhizosphere of this crop produce various plant growth-promoting substances and enhance the availability of nutrients to the plants. Therefore, fifty five bacterial isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of clusterbean were explored for beneficial characteristics. Twenty rhizobacterial isolates produced indole acetic acid ranging from 3.9 to 24.7 μg/mL. Only six isolates HCS7, HCS19, HFS7, HFS9, HFS10 and HFS12 showed d-aminolevulinic acid production varying from 1.3 to 7.0 μg/mL. Fourteen isolates showed solubilization of potassium on mica containing Aleksandrov medium plates. Stimulation of root and shoot growth of clusterbean seedlings on water agar plates was observed by inoculation of eleven rhizobacterial isolates at 5 and 10 days of growth whereas some isolates showed stunting effect on the growth of shoot and root as compared to uninoculated seedlings. At 60 days of plant growth, inoculation of Bradyrhizobium strain GSA11 and Rhizobium strain GSA110 showed significant nodulation and their inoculation resulted in 141.94 and 151.43% gains in shoot dry weight, respectively under chillum jar conditions. Coinoculation of Bacillus isolate HCS43 with Rhizobium strain GSA110 formed 48 nodules/plant and plant dry weight was enhanced by 190.09% in comparison to uninoculated control plants.