POTENTIAL OF SOME NATIVE BACILLUS STRAINS TO PROMOTE GROWTH OF TOMATO

Abstract

Plant growth promoting bacteria are soil inhabiting around or on the root surface and are involved in plant growth promotion and development via direct or indirect mechanisms. Some native strains of Bacillus were evaluated for their ability to promote growth of tomato. Different in vitro biochemical assays indicated capabilities of these bacterial agents for producing Indole acetic acid, siderophores and phosphate solubilization. Pot experiments indicated ability of B. megaterium FCBP520 strain to induce maximum significant increase in growth parameters like root length, shoot length and total biomass in tomato plants. B. subtillis FCBP170 was second best performer to induce growth promotion in tomato plants. Calorimetric assays were performed to quantify changes in plant growth related biochemicals. Both these strains induced plants for significantly higher production of total chlorophyll, anthocyanin and carotenoid contents. Overall this study presents the potential of B.megaterium FCBP520 and B.subtillis FCBP 170 to promote growth of tomato and the mechanism behind growth promotion with respect to both bacterial inducer and tomato plants. Our results may be the first to demonstrate plant growth promotion by these two bacterial strains during vegetation growth of tomato. This study will also be functionally relevant for future studies directed towards better tomato growth and ultimately better yields in agriculture system of Pakistan.