Abstract
The aim of our study was to determine the symbiotic effectiveness of Mesorhizobium ciceri and plant growth promotion of endophytic bacteria in field-grown chickpea during 2016-17 and 2017-18. Co-inoculation of M. ciceri along with various endophytes has significantly improved soil dehydrogenase activity in chickpea rhizosphere. The combined inoculation of M. ciceri with nodule endophytes, viz. Bacillus cereus (25.7-51.9%) and Bacillus aerophilus (18.6-27.8%) showed higher nodule weight than uninoculated control which is at par with inoculation of M. ciceri with root endophyte (Pseudomonas flourescens). Co-inoculation of M. ciceri + B. aerophilus increased chickpea growth (13.7-21.5%) at 50% flowering stage and grain yield (15.6-18.2%) at harvest stage which is at par with the treatment with P. flourescens (17.5-20.1%). A positive correlation was observed between nodule dry weight with growth and yield of chickpea in the second year. Co-inoculation of endophytic bacteria has improved the symbiotic efficiency, growth and productivity of chickpea through synergistic interaction with Mesorhizobium.
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