M. MOHAMMED RAFI AND P.B.B.N. CHARYULU
Abstract
Bacteria were isolated from the phyllosphere of foxtail millet (variety Lepakshi) at 15-day intervals. The bacterial isolates varied in their efficiency to fix nitrogen. Of the 10 selected isolates of bacteria, only 8 isolates were diazotrophs with 5 isolates exhibiting appreciable nitrogen fixation. Further, the isolates obtained from the phyllosphere of 45-day old plants showed maximum nitrogen-fixing efficiency. Most of the axenic bacterial isolates were identified as Beijerinckia indica. Facultative symbiotrophic associations from the phyllosphere also exhibited appreciable nitrogen-fixing activity.