STUDIES ON RHIZOBACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH GUAVA UNDER MID HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2022-12
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Guava (Psidium guajava) is one of the major tropical crops grown in India and around the world. Guava is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is also known as the Apple of the Tropics. In Himachal Pradesh, guava is grown in district Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur and Una. It has a reasonable quantity of calcium and is an inexpensive source of vitamin C. Guava is a good source of dietary fiber and pectin, also a strong source of ascorbic acid. Interest in the beneficial rhizobacteria associated with horticultural crops has increased recently and several studies clearly demonstrated the positive and beneficial effects of PGPR on growth and yield of different crops at different environment under variable ecological conditions. The pH, EC and OC values of the collected samples varied from (6.67 to 7.93), (0.11 to 0.37 dSm-1) and (0.42 to 1.03%). The N, P and K values of the collected samples varied from (243.60-389.80 kg ha-1), (22.20 to 54.60 kg ha-1) and (144.00 to 389.14 kg ha-1). The maximum N, P and K was recorded in district Kangra. In case of rhizospheric and endorhizospheric bacterial population of guava and their characterization for efficient plant growth promoting traits, total of 75 bacterial isolates were selected. Out of 75 isolates, 40 isolates were P- solubilizers, nitrogen fixers and IAA producers and 38 were siderophore producers. From the total selected bacteria, only two BS6 and KS24 showing promising plant growth promoting traits were characterized by biochemical and molecular identification. BS6 and KS24 were gram positive, rod shaped and showed amplifcation at ~1400bp by 16S rDNA.Therefore, identity of the strains was given as Bacillus subtilis for strain BS6 and Bacillus licheniformis for strain KS24 respectively, and can further be exploited as bioinoculant for field studies.