PLANT-GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA FOR WINTER-WHEAT

The association of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Norstar) with root-colonizing bacteria (rhizobacteria) was studied in potted soil experiments in the growth chamber. Thirty-six known bacteria, some of which have been reported to stimulate plant growth, and 75 isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of winter wheat were tested for their effects on plant growth and development in two different soils. Two known bacteria and 12 isolates stimulated growth of winter wheat. Of these, the most effective were nine isolates that significantly (P < 0.01) increased plant height, root and shoot biomass, and number of tillers. The plant growth promoting effects of isolates were different in the two soils. Three of these strains were tentatively classified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and two each as Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas putida. Some isolates induced significant increases inseedling emergence rates and (or) demonstrated antagonism in vitro against Rhizoctonia solani and Leptosphaeria maculans. These results demonstrate the potential use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria as inoculants for winter wheat.