Auxin Production and Bio-control Potential of Bacillus megaterium and Rhizobium Enhanced the Growth of Zea mays (L.)

Auxin Production and Bio-control Potential of Bacillus megaterium

Authors

  • Fiza Shoaib Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shafaq Navid Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Basharat Ali Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69547/NS.22.01

Keywords:

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, Phytohormones, Indole acetic acid, Rhizosphere, L-tryptophan, Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)

Abstract

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can potentially protect plants from phytopathogens. They can also enhance the vegetative growth parameters of plants. This research aimed to screen Bacillus and Rhizobium strains for their auxin production ability and to assess their bio-control activity against phytopathogens. Strains were tested for auxin production using colorimetric analysis and their bio-control activity was checked using dual culture assay. Pot trials assessed the influence of bacterial strains on vegetative growth parameters of maize. The data of the current study was analyzed by one-way ANOVA test using SPSS 20 software. The results showed that the bacterial strains produced a statistically significant amount of auxin at different concentrations of L-tryptophan. Strains Z-28 (9 µg/ml), Z-56 (10 µg/ml), and Z-63 (8 µg/ml) produced maximum amount of auxin at 0 µg/ml, 500 µg/ml and 1000 µg/ml L-tryptophan, respectively. For bio-control activity, Z-06, Z-63, Z-19, and Z-18 exhibited antifungal activity against Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum. In pot trials, it was observed that Z-63 recorded a 7.6% improvement in shoot length and a 47% improvement in root length compared to control. Similarly, this strain (Z-63) also showed a 41% enhancement in fresh weight of plants. For dry weight, Z-19 (73%) showed statistically significant results as compared to the control. Among consortiums, M1 (72%) and M3 (51%) produced a maximum enhancement in root length and fresh weight over control. Similarly, M1 (66%) produced significant improvement in dry weight in comparison with control. Thus, it was proved that Bacillus and Rhizobium strains have plant growth-promoting abilities and bio-control potential against plant pathogens.  Future aspects of our study provide an eco-friendly and economically efficient approach for the rhizo-engineering of soil with PGPR which would help to overcome the prevailing issue of global food insecurity.

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Published

2024-08-26

How to Cite

Shoaib, F., Navid, S., & Ali, B. (2024). Auxin Production and Bio-control Potential of Bacillus megaterium and Rhizobium Enhanced the Growth of Zea mays (L.): Auxin Production and Bio-control Potential of Bacillus megaterium. Nature’s Symphony , 2(2), 01–12. https://doi.org/10.69547/NS.22.01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024): Nature's Symphony-Volume 2, Issue 2

Section

Biology

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Fiza Shoaib, Shafaq Navid, Basharat Ali

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