Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 11(3): 1457 -1465. Published October 31, 2011.
Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on field grown maize
Adjanohoun A.1, Allagbe M1, Noumavo P. A. 2, Gotoechan-Hodonou H.3, Sikirou R.3, Dossa K. K.1, Glele Kakaï R4, Kotchoni S. O.5, Baba-Moussa L.2*
- Centre de Recherches Agricoles Sud/Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin. BP 03 Attogon, BENIN.
- Laboratoire de Biologie et de Typage Moléculaire en Microbiologie/Département de Biochimie et de Biologie Cellulaire/Faculté des Sciences et Techniques/Université d’Abomey-Calavi/ 05 BP 1604 Cotonou, BENIN.
- Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin. BP 884 Cotonou, BENIN.
- Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques/Université d’Abomey-Calavi. 01BP526, Abomey-Calavi, BENIN.
- Department of Biology, Rutgers University, 315 Penn St., Camden, NJ 08102, USA.
*Corresponding author Email:laminesaid@yahoo.fr; tel: +229 97123468
Keywords: Rhizobacteria, growth, maize, shoot, root, BeninSUMMARY
Previous studies have shown the role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in various improved cropping systems. The effects of 15 maize field isolated PGPR on non-degraded reddish ferrous field grown maize in southern Benin were studied to (i) characterize the maize specific PGPR; and (ii) establish the efficient maize specific PGPR inoculation for an improved maize growth and productivity. The experimental device is a block of Fischer to 4 repetitions with 16 treatments (15 rhizobacteria for maize seed inoculated at concentrations of about 108 bacterial CFU / ml and an uninoculated control). The data for plant height and number of leaves emerged were collected on 10 plants per treatment once a week from the 8th day after sowing. This study results revealed that Azospirillium lipoferum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. putida are the best PGPR candidates for maize crop improvement on reddish ferrous field. An increased root biomass of 59.57% and 23.40% was recorded with Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. aeroginosa, respectively, while other members of the 15 identified PGPR showed little or no significant growth promoting effect on maize crops compared to non-PGPR colonized maize field. This work suggests that PGPR represent one of the most promising biofertilizers to promote maize crop productivity and increased biomass yield in southern Benin.
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE ]
