Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric Bacteria From Limonium stocksii

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric bacteria (PGPR) are beneficial microorganisms that can enhance plant growth against biotic and abiotic stress. The present investigation was carried out to isolate and characterize the PGPR from the rhizospheric region of Limonium stocksii, a halophyte. Salt tolerance test for the organisms was carried out up to 15% of salt concentrations. Out of 10 bacterial isolates, six were able to grow at 15% salt concentration. The isolates able to grow at 15% salt concentration were selected for further studies. Further, six isolates showed PGP traits as well as produced extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. The ongoing work would establish the usefulness of these organisms to enhance plant growth via diverse mechanisms eventually leading to the reduction and/or replacement of the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture practices.