Effect of co-inoculation of Brevibacterium iodinum RS16 and Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20 on the early growth of crop plants in Saemangeum reclaimed soil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of single and co-inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on early plant growth in Saemangeum reclaimed soil. Plant growth promoting Brevibacterium iodinum RS16 and Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20 were inoculated on maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor L.) grown in Saemangeum reclaimed soil. Single and co-inoculation of B. iodinum RS16 and M. oryzae CBMB20 increased plant height, dry biomass accumulation and macro-nutrient accumulation of maize and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid. M. oryzae CBMB20 treatment increased plant height in maize by 41.2% at 30 days after sowing (DAS), shoot dry weight and total dry weight compared to non-inoculated treatment. Macro-nutrient accumulation (N and P) in maize roots was significantly increased with co-inoculation treatment, K and Ca content was significantly increased at B. iodinum RS16 treatment compared to non-inoculated treatment. Macro-nutrient accumulation (P, K, Ca and Mg) in shoot was higher with M. oryzae CBMB20 treatment compared to non-inoculated treatment. In case of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, co-inoculation treatment showed 33.7% increase in plant height compared to non-inoculated treatment at 30 DAS. M. oryzae CBMB20 treatment increased root dry weight and total dry weight, macro-nutrient accumulation in roots and N, Ca and Mg accumulation in shoot compared to non-inoculated treatment. P and K accumulation in shoot was significantly increased at co-inoculation treatment compared to non-inoculated treatment. This pot culture experiment demonstrated that single and co-inoculation of B. iodinum RS16 and M. oryzae CBMB20 increased the early growth and nutrient accumulation of maize and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid.