BIOPRIMING OF WHEAT SEEDS WITH RHIZOBACTERIA CONTAINING ACC-DEAMINASE AND PHOSPHORATE SOLUBILIZING ACTIVITIES INCREASES WHEAT GROWTH AND YIELD UNDER PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY

The performance of two Pseudomonas fluorescens strains (biotype F and G) that differ in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity and phosphorus (P) solubilization was evaluated for their effect on wheat growth and yield under P deficiency stress. The field experiment was conducted in a P-deficient soil by employing two-factor factorial randomized complete block design. Factor A comprised of rhizobacterial biopriming of wheat seeds (seed inoculation with two rhizobacterial strains, viz. B1: Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype G and B2: Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype F and a control treatment, i.e. B0: with no bacterial inoculation of seed). Factor B included two P fertilizer levels (P0: 0% and P1: 100% of the recommended dose). The rhizobacterial biopriming significantly increased most of the growth traits and yield of wheat, either alone or in interaction with P-nutrition. Rhizobacterial seed inoculation was effective at both P-levels and P. fluorescens biotype F and G were more effective at adequate and deficient P-levels, respectively. The study concluded that rhizobacterial biopriming is a promising tool in enhancing wheat yield under P deficiency stress.