Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on field grown maize

Previous studies have shown the role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in various improved cropping systems The effects of 15 maize field isolated PGPR on nondegraded reddish ferrous field grown maize in southern Benin were studied to (i) characterize the maize specific PGPR; and (ii) establish the efficient maize specific PGPR inoculation for an improved maize growth and productivity. The experimental device is a block of Fischer to 4 repetitions with 16 treatments (15 rhizobacteria for maize seed inoculated at concentrations of about 108 bacterial CFU / ml and an uninoculated control). The data for plant height and number of leaves emerged were collected on 10 plants per treatment once a week from the 8th day after sowing. This study results revealed that

Azospirillium lipoferum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. putida are the best PGPR candidates for maize crop improvement on reddish ferrous field. An increased root biomass of 59.57% and 23.40% was recorded with Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. aeruginosa, respectively, while other members of the 15 identified PGPR showed little or no significant growth promoting effect on maize crops compared to non-PGPR colonized maize field. This work suggests that PGPR represent one of the most promising biofertilizers to promote maize crop productivity and increased biomass yield in southern Benin.

Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 11(3): 1457-1465

Contacts du ou des auteurs: Adjanohoun A., Allagbe M., Noumavo P. A., Gotoechan-Hodonou H., Sikirou R., Dossa K. K., Glèlè Kakaï R. (glele.romain@gmail.com), Kotchoni S. O., Baba-Moussa L.