Cyanobacterial consortia as biostimulant for germination of Zea mays seeds

Cyanobacterial extracts are known to be rich in several plant growth promoting metabolites as well as phytohormones. Indole 3 acetic acid is one of the phytohormones that are known to be promoting seed germination. On the basis of the ability of three cyanobacterial species Westiellopsis sp. TPR-29, Hapalosiphon sp. Ryu2-7DN_D3 and Chlorogloeopsis fritschii PCC 6912 to produce IAA, their cell free supernatant were tested for induction of germination in Zea mays (Maize) seeds. The seeds were treated with cell free extracts of 15 days old cyanobacterial cultures for 24 and 48 hours.