Singh, Ajay VeerLohani, Swati2019-01-302019-01-302018-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810092869Plants under natural environmental conditions experience various kinds of abiotic and biotic stresses, results as severe deterioration in plant growth and development. According to this perspective, the present study was accomplished with the implementation of drought tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in wheat. For this study, total twenty bacterial isolates were retrieved from departmental culture collection. Drought tolerant twelve bacterial isolates were selected on the basis of growth present on tryptic soy broth medium supplemented with 8% poly ethylene glycol. These drought tolerant isolates were further analyzed for plant growth promoting activities (siderophore production, zinc solubilization, phosphate solubilization IAA production etc.) and five potent bacterial isolates were screened and further used for consortia development. These consortia along with single bacterial isolates were analyzed for plant growth promoting traits such as siderophore production, zinc solubilization, phosphate solubilization and ammonia production. Furthermore, an in situ greenhouse pot experiment was designed under drought stress to evaluate the potential of drought tolerant plant growth promoting bacteria along with their consortia isolates on wheat (Triticum aestivum var. PBW373). Results of greenhouse pot experiment confirmed that all bacterial isolates and their consortia were significantly able to improve plant growth and productivity in terms of agronomical parameters such as root length and plant height. Among all treatments, two bacterial isolates i.e. WRPa4 and SRK14 and two consortia CIII and CV proved as more potent for drought tolerance and plant growth. To determine the shelf life of consortia under different temperature conditions such as room temperature (25 °C), 4°C and outdoor conditions, a talc based bioformulation was prepared. Result of shelf life determination demonstrated that all consortia were able to survive for three months in all defined condition. The bioformulation these consortia CIII and CVand bacterial isolate SRK14 and WRPa4 could be used as bio protective and biofertilizer agent after further examination, at commercial scale in field under stressed conditions.ennullThesis