EFFECT OF PGPR STRAINS ON SUNFLOWER GROWTH AND NUTRIENT CONTENTS UNDER SALINITY STRESS
Muhammad Zahid Kiani*, Tariq Sultan**, Arshad Ali**, Ghulam Qadir*** Imdad Ali Mahmood**, Tauseef Tabassam**, Muhammad Arshad Ullah** and Nasir Abbas*
ABSTRACT
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are potentially useful for stimulating plant growth under harsh environment. A pot trial was conducted to examine the performance of four isolated strains in five treatments viz., KS 44, KS 7, KS 41, KS 42 and KS mix under four different artificially developed -1 salinity levels (5, 8, 10 and 12 dS m ) at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. Hybrid seeds (SMH 0917) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were used. After six weeks of sowing, plants were harvested and data regarding root length, plant height, root dry weight and shoot dry weight were recorded. The plant growth improved significantly with PGPR strain under salt stress. The root length, plant height, root and shoot weight increased up to 40%, 40%, 167% and 255%, -1 respectively over un-inoculated at 12 dS m salinity level. Whereas an increase of 38%, 54%, 109%, and 117% in root length, plant height, root weight and shoot -1 weight, respectively was observed over un-inoculated at 10 dS m salinity level. Improvement of 25%, 47%, 112%, and 98% in root length, plant height, root weight, -1 shoot weight, respectively was recorded over control at 8 dS m salinity level. -1 Similar trend was observed at 5dS m salinity level. The phosphorus and potassium content significantly increased because of bacterial inoculation. The strain KS 7 -1 indicated the maximum phosphorus contents at 5dS m which was 313% higher as compared to control. Similarly K+ content significantly increased at all salinity levels. This study concluded that PGPR isolate KS 44 is the most effective strain followed by KS 7 among all tested strains in improving sunflower growth and P, K content under salinity stress.
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