SCREENING OF METHYLOBACTERIUM SPP. FOR ENHANCING GROWTH AND NITROGEN NUTRITION IN GROUNDNUT

K. RAGAVI¹, K. KUMUTHA²*, M. SENTHILKUMAR³, S. THIYAGESHWARI^4
1Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, 625 104, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, India
²Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, 625 104, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, India
³Agricultural College and Research Institute, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur, 641 902, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
⁴Professor (SS&AC), Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
* Corresponding Author : kkumuthatnau@gmail.com

Received : 30-06-2019     Accepted : 26-07-2019     Published : 30-07-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 7       Pages : 1665 - 1669
Int J Microbiol Res 11.7 (2019):1665-1669

Keywords : Methylobacterium, Ammonia production, Nitrogen fixation, ARA, Nitrate reduction, Seedling vigour
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, 625 104, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Methylobacterium is a group of PGP organism that can be associated with phylloshpheric region which enhances the growth of plant directly or indirectly, improve soil fertility and nutrient uptake. It has continued to attract the attention of researchers due to the low cost, growth promoting ability and stress mitigation potential. Though Methylobacterium spp. are well known for their growth promotion, the ability to solubilize phosphate and potassium has been receiving attention in recent years. But the studies are very meager to exploit Methylobacterium for Nitrogen nutrition. In this investigation three pink-pigmented facultative Methylotrophic (PPFM) strains were obtained from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, AC&RI, Madurai and evaluated for Nitrogen contribution under Greenhouse condition. All the selected bacterial strains M. populi, M. radiotolerance, and M. thiocynatum upon characterization, showed positive for nitrate reduction, N2 fixation and ammonia production, besides enhancing plant growth. Cell nitrogen content was observed maximum with M. thiocynatum and recorded the increase in native nodulation to the tune of 84.3% over control. This has been reflected in plant Nitrogen status also. Increase in leaf number has also been reported, which may contribute for the production of enhanced photosynthates to compensate the energy requirements for both partners. Among the three strains evaluated M. thiocynatum recorded higher ARA activity (29.5 nmoles of ethylene produced h-1 mg-1 of protein) followed by M. radiotolerance (16.4 of ethylene produced h-1 mg-1 ) and M. populi (6.4 nmoles of ethylene produced h-1 mg-1 of protein). The same culture enhanced the seedling vigour to the tune of 19% over other cultures and 55% over uninoculated control and this study showed the N contribution by Methylobacterial inoculation.

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