The effects of Pseudomonas koreensis IGPEB 17 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and physiological properties of ginger

The effect of Pseudomonas koreensis IGPEB 17 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant growth and physiological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in net house conditions was investigated. The experiment included four treatments including P. koreensis IGPEB 17, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) biofertilizer and combination of P. koreensis IGPEB 17 and AMF treatment. The result indicated that P. koreensis IGPEB 17 had positive effects on plant growth-promoting traits such as P-solubilization, protease, amylase, IAA, and ACC deaminase production. Moreover, P. koreensis IGPEB 17 showed ability in producing lipase and cellulase. The P. koreensis IGPEB 17 significantly increased plant height (57.6%), the leaf number (28.1%), leaf length (23.3%) and leaf width (35.7%) compared to control treatment. However, the combination of P. koreensis IGPEB 17 and AMF treatment significantly increased the height of plant, the number of leaf, the length of leaf and the width of leaf by 68.4%, 42.3%, 30.2%, and 54.7%, respectively compared to control treatment. Furthermore, dual inoculation of P. koreensis IGPEB 17 and AMF significantly enhanced the chlorophyll a (76.5%), chlorophyll b (71.2%), total chlorophyll (73.3%), and carotenoid content (74.7%), respectively rather than control. In conclusion, results showed that dual inoculation of P. koreensis IGPEB 17 strain and AMF increased plant growth and physiological traits of ginger plants compared to inoculation with P. koreensis IGPEB 17 and AMF alone.