Abstract
Six strains (Qso, N3, Q7, N7, Q14 & Y) of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria showing ACC-deaminase activity were isolated from rhizosphere of wheat. Wheat seeds were inoculated and sown in pots filled with 12 kg soil fertilized with NPK @ 150-120-70 kg na', respectively. All the isolates exhibited a significant increase in grain yield, straw yield, root weight, root elongation, number of tillers, N, P & K uptake in straw and grain over uninoculated control. Root elongation, root weight, straw yield and grain yield increased up to 31, 83, 69 and 60%, respectively, over uninoculated control. The growth promoting activity exhibited by the rhizobacteria might be due to their ability to hydrolyze ACC, thus resulting in decreased endogenous ethylene synthesis, which eliminated the potential inhibitory effects of higher ethylene concentrations. Results showed that ACC-deaminase containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria could be effectively used for growth promotion in wheat. Key words: 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate, rhizobacteria, wheat.
