Effect of PGPR on the early growth of maize and microbial abundance in rhizosphere

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial abundance in maize rhizosphere depending on the applied bacterial inoculants and the leaf stage of maize as well as to examine the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the early growth of maize plants. In this experiment three bacterial species: Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens applied individually and in mixture were used as inoculants. One hybrid of maize included in the tests: NS 6010 developed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. Experiments were established in laboratory and in greenhouse. The number of the investigated microbial groups depended on the applied bacterial inoculants and the leaf stage of maize plants. Bacterial strains used in this study had a statistically significant influence on the number of microorganisms in maize rhizosphere and a positive effect on the early growth of maize. Bacterial inoculants increased plant height and weight of young maize plants.

Cilj ovih istraživanja bio je da se odredi brojnost mikroorganizama u rizosferi kukuruza u zavisnosti od primenjenih bakterijskih inokulanata i faze rasta kukuruza kao i da se ispita efekat rizobakterija - promotora biljnog rasta (PGPR) na početni rast kukuruza. Kao inokulanti korišćene su tri vrste bakterija: Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis i Pseudomonas fluorescens primenjene pojedinačno i u smeši. U istraživanjima je korišćen jedan hibrid kukuruza: NS 6010 stvoren u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo u Novom Sadu. Ogledi su postavljeni u laboratoriji i u žičari. Broj ispitivanih grupa mikroorganizama zavisio je od primenjenih bakterijskih inokulanata i faze rasta kukuruza. Sojevi bakterija ispoljili su statistički značajan uticaj na brojnost mikroorganizama u rizosferi kukuruza i imali su pozitivan efekat na rast biljaka kukuruza. Inokulacijom je povećana visina i masa biljaka kukuruza.