Role of microbial inoculants for improving productivity and systemic resistance in Abelmoschus esculentus

Abstract

Okra is an economic vegetable crop and widely dispersed throughout the world's tropical, subtropical zones. It is necessary for human health and an adequate supply of total vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and other elements that are typically deficient in developing-country diets. The disease issues in this crop are root-decaying infections. Microbial inoculants are gaining a reputation in agronomic research. Pseudomonas species have the ability to boost plant immunity by inducing resistance against biotic and abiotic stress. Because of its substantial properties in growth and pathogen suppression during its complimentary relationship with host, Pseudomonas is the most preferred bio-inoculant. The association of Pseudomonas with crop stimulates the secretion of phytohormones, secondary metabolites and enzymes responsible for growth and pathogen control. The aim of the study is to figure out the consequences of competing inoculants on the nutritional content and quality of okra plants. So different strains of P. fluorescens (EFP161, EFP121, EFP43, EFP56, and EFP171) were inoculated (200 mL in soil) along with okra seeds in field trails. The experiment was completely randomized block design and run for 60 days of inoculation. After harvesting (60 days), their growth parameters with their biomass and stress resistance indicators like polyphenols (26.5 μg/mL), antioxidant (43.08%) and salicylic acid content (0.11 μg/mL) were estimated in Pseudomonas treated plants. Fruit quality parameters including total soluble solids (4.7%), pH, moisture content (93%), proteins (95 μg/mL) and carbohydrates (39 μg/mL) were tested in order to check their nutritional value. Okra plants showed some complications during field trails like death of the young seedlings, wet soil, rotting of small pods is a fairly common problem. These inoculants exhibited plant growth-stimulating properties by elevating their resistance power to stress and against phytopathogens responsible for plant growth reduction. The inoculation of these strains not only increased the plant growth parameters but also increased the nutritional quality of fruits. This research summarizes the impact of microbial inoculants as agricultural inputs.