A. MERLINE SHEELA, R. SHANMUGASUNDARAM AND M.D. SUNDARAM
Abstract
The distribution of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) in the phyllosphere of various crop species established in ash pond of the thermal power plant of Neyveli Lignite Corporation was studied. All the crop species harboured PPFMs and the distribution was more in the maize crop. Among the ten isolates obtained from the phyllosphere of maize the isolate Methylobacterium spp. APM 3 was found to produce more IAA, able to grow at acid pH, enhance the germination, vigour index, biomass production and yield fo the maize crop.