16. Isolation and evaluation of summer legumes Rhizobia as PGPR
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Abstract
Rhizobia are bacteria well known for biological nitrogen fixation through symbioses. These bacteria may also perform as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study the role of rhizobia as PGPR was studied. Rhizobia was isolated from the root nodules of various summer legumes including Glycine max (Soybaen), Vigna radiata (Mung bean), Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea), Susbenia grandiflora (Sesbania) and Cymposistetra gonoloba (Guar) grown at New Developmental Farm (NDF), the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2011. Rhizobia were isolated from root nodules by using yeast minitol agar media, pure culture of each isolate was prepared and examined for various PGPR traits. Data revealed that 9, 83, 47 and 21% of tested strains were found to produce cyanide (HCN), siderophores, indole-acetic acid (IAA) and solubilized phosphorus respectively. Among the tested rhizoial isolates, rhizobia isolated from Vigna radiata showed highest PGPR activity fallowed by Glycine max while relatively lower PGPR activity was observed for rhizobial isolates of Cymposistetra gonoloba (Guar). All the tested isolates were gram negative. Soybaen and cowpea isolates were found to be fast growing while mung bean, susbenia and guar were slow growing in nature. This study indicates that rhizobial isolates of Vigna radiata and Glycine max have the capability to be used as PGPR.
Keywords: Rhizobia; PGPR; Legumes; Siderophores; Vinga radiate; Glycine max