Determination of Novel Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Isolated from Rhizospheric Soils of South Gujarat Forest, India

Abstract

Forest regions have good weather conditions for agricultural practices. Crop growth and productivity are affected by the presence of novel bio organisms in these areas. The present study sought to identify the location of the forest rhizosphere soil of some field crops. Screening procedures were used to assess their growth capabilities and evaluate their potential as PGPB. Various features of PGPB, like phosphate and potassium solubilization, nitrogen fixation, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, ammonia (NH3) synthesis, siderophore generation, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) synthesis, were analyzed morphologically, biochemically, and physiologically during the screening process. One isolate out of the nine only produced good results for every attribute studied that promoted plant development. By sequencing their 16S rRNA, the promising isolates were determined to be Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. To assess the efficacy of PGPB and its liquid and powder formulation as a biofertilizer, a field trial had been conducted. In comparison to the uninoculated control, all tested inoculants considerably enhanced the yield components of several crops, the amount of N and P that plants could absorb from the soil, the activity of some soil enzymes, and the overall number of bacteria. The application of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as a PGPR demonstrated significant promise in addressing the obstacles associated with sustainable agriculture in a variety of environmental circumstances.