Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on seed germination and plant growth on beans

A Total number of 24 rhizobacterial strains were isolated from different crop soils with the aim to find out some potential biocontrol agents against bean wilt. The five selected isolates were subjected to biochemical test viz. starch hydrolysis, catalase test, oxidase test, arginine hydrolysis, gelatin liquefaction, H2S production, oxygen requirement test, indole production, urease test, nitrate reduction test and methyl red test for identification. The five rhizobacterial isolates and fungicide (carbendazim) were used for application of seed treatment of beans for 12 and 1 h to study their effect on seed germination. Seed treatment for 12h with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia gave maximum seed germination (86.67%). All selected PGPR isolates enhanced plant growth parameter such as shoot length (34.40 cm) and root depth (26.22 cm).