Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, 560029 Karnataka, India. Corresponding e-mail: mridul.umesh@christuniversity.in
Abstract: Rhizobacteria that promote plant growth are crucial for improving the health, growth, and yield of plants. In this study, 14 isolates were obtained and the significance of
Bacillus albus NJ01 as PGPR for the improvement of growth in tomato (
Solanum lycopersicum) was assessed, as it showed plant growth-promoting traits like IAA, siderophores and ammonia production, phosphate and zinc solubilization, etc. Its role in increasing crop root and shoot length while avoiding the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers was also studied. The root length of tomato control plants and plants treated with bioinoculant was found to be 5.58 ± 0.15 and 7.98 ± 0.24 cm, respectively. The shoot length of control plants and plants treated with bioinoculant was found to be 8.25 ± 0.82 and 10.24 ± 0.11 cm, respectively, therefore confirming the potentiality of
Bacillus albus NJ01 bioinoculant as an able PGPR for improving the growth of tomato.
