Improving maize growth through biopriming with seed endophytic <i>Bacillus tequilensis</i> LRB17

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most cultivated crop globally after wheat and rice. It is one of the important staple food crops in the tribal-inhabited forest areas in India, where reduced yield is observed due to lower soil nutrients. Biopriming with bacteria having plant growth promotion (PGP) effects could be an effective way to mitigate this problem. In this context, a potential Bacillus tequilensis LRB17 strain was bioprimed in maize cultivar for the first time for PGP. Treatment of maize with the bacterium could enhance seedling vigor by 19.56%. The root and shoot length and the root and shoot weights were enhanced by 120.21% and 121.41% and 43.03% and 40.07%, respectively. Average height of matured plants, average leaf area, and plant biomass could be enhanced by 19.30%, 30.47%, and 311.30%, respectively. Parenchyma cells in stems increased with well-developed bundle sheaths. The bacterium has been isolated from local millet crop landrace of "Koraput" area of the "Eastern Ghats" of India, which has been designated as "Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)" by the United Nations. Hence, the native Bacillus tequilensis LRB17 posed as a potential bioagent for yield enhancement of maize for the benefit of tribal population.