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Evaluation of Multispecies Plant-Growth-Promoting Consortia for the Growth Promotion of Jatropha curcas L.

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Abstract

Direct interactions that occur between members of different microbial types often result in the promotion of key processes that benefit plant growth and health. In the present study, four isolates, Brevibacillus brevis (MS1), Bacillus licheniformis (MS3), Micrococcus sp. (MS4), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (MS5), were used to develop multispecies consortia. They have the ability to produce IAA, solubilize inorganic P, and produce ACC deaminase and siderophore. The growth profile of MS1 was similar in monospecies and mixed-species cultures, but about a 24 % increase in mean growth rate was recorded for MS5. They enhanced the growth of Jatropha curcas in individual trials. Plant growth further improved maximally when the three were applied together. All four strains enhanced Jatropha growth in greenhouse and field experiments. Co-inoculation provides the largest and most consistent increases in shoot weight, root weight, total biomass, shoot and root length, total chlorophyll, shoot width, and grain yield.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to British Petroleum International Ltd. for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380 009, Gujarat, India

    Chaitanya Kumar Jha & Meenu Saraf

  2. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380 009, Gujarat, India

    Meenu Saraf

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  1. Chaitanya Kumar Jha
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  2. Meenu Saraf
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Correspondence to Meenu Saraf.

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Jha, C.K., Saraf, M. Evaluation of Multispecies Plant-Growth-Promoting Consortia for the Growth Promotion of Jatropha curcas L.. J Plant Growth Regul 31, 588–598 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-012-9269-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-012-9269-5

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