Isolation, screening and application of a potent PGPR for enhancing growth of Chickpea as affected by nitrogen level

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) can obtain much of its N requirement through nitrogen fixation, but plant productivity also relies on N fertilization. Nitrogen capture from fertilizers by the plant is highly inefficient and can have a negative impact on the environment. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can improve efficiency of N fertilizer use and support optimum plant growth under low N input to soil. Chickpea plants were grown in pots and treated with low and optimum N input supplemented with PGPR. Bacteria isolated from chickpea rhizosphere exhibited potential growth promoting production of ammonia, indole acetic acid and phytase and solubilization of inorganic phosphate and zinc. A PGPR strain, identified as Cedecea davisae RS3, was selected by principal component analysis and its effect on plant growth promotion evaluated in chickpea plants under N-appropriate (N+), N-deficit with RS3 (N−RS3) and N-appropriate with RS3 (N+RS3) treatments. Overall performance of chickpea plants grown under N−RS3 was better than that of N+ and N+RS3 plants. The improved performance under N-RS3 could be related to enhancement of root nodulation and nitrogenase activity. The PGPR with N-RS3 might be used to obtain sustainable production of chickpea under reduced N.