Employing formulations of beneficial rhizobacteria to improve growth and health of tomato (lycopersicon esculentum mill.)

Abstract

In the present study, we attempted to improve the growth and health of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) using talc based formulations of two beneficial rhizobacteria (Bacillus subtilis PSIRB2 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2apa). These isolates were well characterized for their beneficial traits in our previous studies. Shelf life of talc-formulation of isolate 2apa was found stable up to 60 days, afterwards a drastic decrease was observed with the storage period at room temperature. The population of PSIRB2 decreased gradually throughout the experimental period of 120 days to 0.25 × 10⁷ cfu/g formulation. Growth promotion studies under laboratory and greenhouse conditions revealed that the talc-formulations of both the test bacteria as good as fresh cultures in increasing the growth variables, in comparison with control. Similarly, PSIRB treated seedlings (both talc-formulation and fresh culture) recorded significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher nutrient uptake. Under greenhouse conditions isolate 2apa recorded significant (P ≤ 0.05) disease protection in both talc-formulation and fresh culture form against Fusarium wilt and Early blight diseases of tomato.