Interaction effect of bio-inoculants on modulating growth and yield of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) cv. yellow gold

Abstract

Drawbacks of intensive farming practices, environmental hazards and costs of chemical fertilizers have renewed interest in bio-inoculants. Microorganisms playing an important role in improving the plant growth and yield are generally referred as beneficial microbes or plant growth promoting rhizo-microorganisms (PGPR). The investigation was carried out in green house at Department of Agricultural Microbiology, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru during 2016-17 in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications and nine treatments. The observations were taken at 30, 60, 90 days after transplanting and at harvest. The treatment received 75% N & P + 100% K + Azotobacter isolate (PGPR-24) @ 2kg/ha + Bacillus isolate (PGPR-9) @ 2kg/ha recorded significantly highest plant height (41.74 cm), number of branches (8.33/plant), number of leaves (136.33/plant), plant spread (798.27 cm2), number of suckers (11.67), total dry weight (88.50g/plant) accumulation; yield attributes such as number of flowers (26.33 per plant) and flower weight (101.90g/plant). The native isolates (Azotobacter spp. and Bacillus sp.) performed well in compare with control as well as reference strains in both single and dual inoculated treatments may be because of positive interaction between plant and native isolates and may be the rhizospheric effect of chrysanthemum on native isolates was good in compare to reference strains