Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper


Vol 23, Issue 4, 2017

Page Number: 2077-2082

EFFECT OF OSMOTOLERANT ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIA FOR ALLEVIATION OF WATER DEFICIT STRESS IN PEARL MILLET

Bapi Das, Sangeeta Paul and Maheshwar Singh Rathi

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the osmotolerant endophytic bacteria for alleviation of water deficit stress in pearl millet. Ten osmotolerant endophytic bacteria, capable of growing in 50% PEG 6000, were screened for their ability to alleviate water deficit stress in pearl millet. Most of the isolates improved shoot root fresh wt. and dry wt. under water deficit stress conditions in pearl millet. Two of the most promising endophytic bacteria also improved percent germination and seedling vigour of inoculated pearl millet seedling as compared to uninoculated control treatment exposed to water stress. Inoculation with these isolates led to considerable increase in leaf chlorophyll content and significant decrease in electrolyte leakage under water stress conditions in pearl millet. Thus, both the cultures, MMR-1 and MAL- 3, showed potential as bioinoculants for alleviation of water deficit stress in pearl millet.