Emerging potential of spinach PGPR for plant growth promotion

Abstract The quest for enhancing the production of leafy vegetables due to their high nutritional status has led to inevitable use of hazardous agrochemicals leading to chief agricultural losses. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) being harmless biofertilizers can serve as suitable candidates for attaining the increasing demands of global agriculture. With perspective to explore the bio efficiency of Spinach oleracea rhizobacteria, the study was designed utilizing rhizospheric bacteria of spinach. Initially, seventeen rhizobacteria (ST1, ST2, ST4, ST5, ST7, ST8, ST11, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST19, ST20, ST23, ST25) were isolated which were identified morphologically. Subsequent biochemical testing revealed their identification as Bacillus spp, Clostridium spp, Corynebacterium spp, Lactobacillus spp and Mycobacterium spp. The Screening of these isolates for multiple PGP traits exposed their potentialities. However, employment of most potential PGPR at two varieties (Desi palak and Lahori Palak) of spinach further confirmed their putative role in growth enhancement of spinach. Therefore, current results suggest the significant application of spinach associated rhizoflora as safer and effective biofertilizers for extendable agricultural land.