RANA, NEERJADHIMAN, MEENAKSHI2020-12-032020-12-032020-11https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810156206ABSTRACT In order to avoid the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, various traditional inputs such as Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Farm Yard Manure and Shady soil of banyan tree are available which acts as richest source of the microbial diversity and beneficial for soil health and quality. Due to increase in utilization there may be the scarcity of these organic sources near future. Therefore microorganism (PGPR) from these resources can act as alternative way of fertilizers. Nowadays, PGPR established a efficient and commercial role in sustainable agriculture development around the globe and can reduce chemical input upto 25-30%. Beside this PGPR also provides a cost effective, eco-friendly way of detoxification and bioremediation of soil. Hence, investigation entitled “Studies on bacterial diversity associated with organic sources of nutrients and their effects on growth and yield of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)” was carried out during the years 2017-20 in the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Basic Sciences, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, NauniSolan. The samples of organic sources of nutrient (FYM, Panchgavya, Jeevamrit and Organic soil) were collected from different location of Himachal Pradesh (Una, Hamirpur and Nauni) and Punjab (Jalandhar, Hosiarpur and Sangrur). The isolation of bacterial isolates were carried out by using specific medium viz., Nutrient agar medium, PVK medium and Jensen medium. A total of 60 bacterial isolates were selected and purified from different organic sources of nutrients. Out of 60 bacterial isolates (14 from FYM, 5 from panchgavya, 8 from jeevamrit and 33 from organic soil) 49 were P-solubilizer, 53 were nitrogen fixers, 28 were HCN producers, 37 were siderophore producers, 42 showed inhibition against Pythium aphanidematum and 43 showed inhibiton against Collectotrichum capsici. Only 12 bacterial isolates out of 60 isolates were selected on the basis of various PGPR traits (N-fixation, P-solubilization, siderophore, HCN and auxin production) and antagonism against Pythium aphanidematum and Collectotrichum capsici causing rhizome rot and leaf spot of turmeric respectively. Bacterial isolate JS6 showed maximum P-solubilization qualitative (91.56 %) and quantitative (489.59 µg/ml), siderophore production (95.13%) on solid CAS medium and (498.10 µg/ml) in liquid assay, IAA production (69.51 µg/ml), HCN production and antagonism against Pythium aphanidematum (93.88 %) and Collectotrichum capsici (89.54 %). Only three bacterial isolates (PGPR1, PGPR2 and PGPR3) were selected on the basis of maximum plant growth promoting traits for net house study. Bacterial isolates PGPR1 and PGPR3 were identified as Bacillus megaterium whereas; PGPR2 was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens on the basis of molecular characterization by 16S rDNA. Plants bacterized with isolate PGPR3 (JS6) showed significant increase in rhizome germination (54.67 %), number of leaf per plant (76.89 %), shoot length (46.29 %), shoot fresh weight (30.38 %), shoot dry weight (114.66 %), rhizome length (67.43 %) and in rhizome weight (75.99 %) over T1 (Uninoculated control). Under field conditions the selected bacterial isolate PGPR3 along with 70 per cent dose of chemical fertilizer (NPK) as well as FYM registered significant increase in rhizome germination (21.99 %), number of leaf per plant (56 %), shoot length (37.47 %), shoot fresh weight (65.30 %), shoot dry weight (44.43 %), rhizome length (75 %) and rhizome weight (42.52 %) over T1 (control full RDF and FYM). Biofertilization and bioprotactant characters of the selected bacterial isolate PGPR3 (Bacillus megaterium) paved the way of its use at commercial level may be recommended to the farmers which can significantly reduce the dependence on organic as well as chemical fertilizers coupled with eco-friendly approaches for quality production of turmeric in the state.EnglishThesis