Nutrient Rich Bioformulations to Enhance Colonization of Bio-inoculants in Tomato Rhizosphere, Rhizoplane and Endorhiza

Abstract

Nutrient rich bioformulation(s) were prepared by inoculating the bio-inoculants viz., Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9), Pseudomonas fluorescens and Azotobacter chroococcum, in vermicompost supplemented with minimal inorganic fertilizers i.e. Diammonium phosphate and Muriate of potash, compatible with bio-inoculants. In order to enhance nutrient use efficiency and efficiently protect the root system against the attack of phytopathogenic microorganism, a bioinoculants has to establish itself in the rhizosphere and root. An experiment were conducted to evaluate efficiency of nutrient rich bioformulations on rhizosphere and root colonization in tomato. Nutrient rich bioformulations were mixed separately with soil at three dose viz. 25gm, 50gm and 75gm per kg soil and the population was enumerated. The results showed that all treatments having nutrient rich bioformulations at all three doses supported colonization of each bio-inoculants at rhizosphere and root of tomato. In dose-i, maximum populations of Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) and Pseudomonas fluorescens were recorded (44 x 104 cfu/g soil) and (37 x 106 cfu/g soil), respectively, in treatment T21 i.e. Vermicompost + DAP (10% w/w) and MoP (3% w/w) + Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) + Pseudomonas fluorescens + Azotobacter chroococcum, and population of Azotobacterchroococcum (35 x 106 cfu/g soil) recorded in T20 i.e. Vermicompost + DAP (10% w/w) and MoP (3% w/w) + Pseudomonas fluorescens + Azotobacter chroococcum. In dose-ii, maximum populations of Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) was recorded (51.67 x 104 cfu/g soil) in T21 i.e. Vermicompost + DAP (5% w/w) and MoP (2% w/w) + Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) whereas, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Azotobacter chroococcum (41.33 x 106 cfu/g soil) and (35.67 x 106 cfu/g soil), respectively, in treatment T21 i.e. Vermicompost + DAP (10% w/w) and MoP (3% w/w) + Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) + Pseudomonas fluorescens + Azotobacter chroococcum. Similarly, in dose-iii, maximum populations of Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) were recorded (56.67 x 104 cfu/g soil) in treatment T7 i.e. Vermicompost + Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) + Pseudomonas fluorescens + Azotobacter chroococcum, and Pseudomonas fluorescens (53.67 x 106 cfu/g soil), in treatment T14 i.e. Vermicompost + DAP (5% w/w) and MoP (2% w/w) + Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) + Pseudomonas fluorescens + Azotobacter chroococcum whereas maximum Azotobacter chroococcum population (39 x 106 cfu/g soil) recorded in T12 i.e. Vermicompost + DAP (5% w/w) and MoP (2% w/w) + Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) + Azotobacter chroococcum. It was also confirmed that Trichoderma isolate (TRT-9) and Pseudomonas fluorescens develop epiphytic as well as endophytic plant-microorganism interaction with tomato plants. However, Azotobacter chroococcum is associative in nature. This particular type of plant– microorganism association consists of a natural beneficial system to be explored and reported to improve nutrient uptake and increase plant tolerance against phytopathogens.