AUGMENTATIVE ROLE OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA (PGPB) IN MODULATING RESPONSES AGAINST MITIGATION OF SALT STRESS IN TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in mitigating salinity stress in Trigonella foenum graecum. Plants were subjected to three different levels of salinity viz 0, 70 and 150 mM NaCl (electrical conductivity value 0.01, 7.67 and 15.50 mS cm-1

, respectively) using a completely randomized design experiment. PGPB showed positive effects in mitigation of salinity stress in fenugreek plants and elevated various growth responses viz. shoot and root length, shoot and root dry weight, leaf area and number of leaves as compared to uninoculated plants. Microbial inoculation significantly enhanced the physiological responses viz. photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and internal CO2 as compared to uninoculated plants. Biochemical aspects like carotenoids, chlorophylls, nitrogen and protein content were also increased in the microbial inoculated plants as compared to uninoculated plants. PGPB was very effective than in mitigating salinity stress in fenugreek plant. The findings of this study revealed that PGPB inoculation can help the plants to overcome the deleterious effects of salinity stress in fenugreek plants.