Effects of zinc solubilizing bacteria on the growth dynamics of wheat germplasm

Zinc is an essential micronutrient crucial for optimal plant growth and development, influencing various physiological processes such as enzyme function, protein synthesis, and photosynthesis.However, a significant portion of inorganic zinc applied to agricultural soils becomes insoluble, limiting its availability for plant uptake.This deficiency presents a challenge in zinc-deficient regions, resulting in reduced crop yields and nutritional imbalances.A pot experiment was conducted during 2022-23 to assess the growthpromoting potential of three zinc solubilizing bacterial strains: Pseudomonas lurida (DJ4), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (DJ5), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (DJ13) across eight wheat varieties under greenhouse conditions.The experiment employed a completely randomized design with two factors.Results indicated that all tested zinc solubilizing bacteria and the chemical fertilizer ZnSO4 significantly enhanced growth parameters compared to the control.Notably, the maximum increases in shoot length (38.810.35cm) and root length (21.222.17cm) were observed with ZnSO application and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (DJ5) in wheat varieties Sirin and Atta Habib, respectively.Furthermore, the highest root fresh weight (3.260.024gplant) and dry weight (0.3560.024 gplant) were recorded with Pseudomonas fluorescens (DJ13) inoculation in wheat variety Sirin whereas Pak-China recorded the highest shoot-to-root ratio (SRR) of 4.020.01after inoculation with Pseudomonas lurida (DJ4).These findings suggest that zinc solubilizing bacteria effectively mobilize zinc for plant uptake, enhancing growth and potentially maximizing wheat production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa