IMPACT OF SIDEROPHORE PRODUCING RHIZOBACTERIA ON GROWTH AND IRON CONTENT IN POTATO

Abstract

Iron deficiency is a prevalent nutritional disorder that has a significant impact on a large population worldwide. Malnutrition can potentially be mitigated through the implementation of biofortification, a method aimed at enhancing the micronutrient content of staple food items. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) possess the capacity to enhance the iron concentration in consumable plant tissues by enhancing its availability through various mechanisms. A controlled experiment was conducted to evaluate the capacity of five bacterial isolates (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6) to promote plant growth and enhance the bioavailability of iron (Fe) in potato plants. The iron was administered via a solution that consisted of iron sulphate. The study's results demonstrate that the utilization of PGPR led to a notable enhancement in multiple growth parameters of the plants, encompassing plant height, root length, root fresh and dry weights, shoot fresh and dry weights, and iron content, in comparison to plants that did not undergo PGPR inoculation. The application of FeSO4 led to a significant increase in the concentration of Fe, with a respective rise of 100% and 173% observed in the grain and shoot, in comparison to the control group. The application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in combination with iron led to a substantial improvement in the levels of iron in both grain and shoot tissues. Specifically, there was a notable increase of 78.64% in grain iron content and a 63.24% increase in shoot iron content, as compared to the control group. The results of this study suggest that the utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can augment the absorption of iron (Fe) by plants in the presence of supplementary Fe in the soil. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of microbial assisted biofortification in potato tuber holds promise for addressing micronutrient deficiency in human populations, particularly in regions with limited access to resources.