Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on Salt Stress Tolerance of Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea)

Abstract

Salinity stress is a crucial environmental stress adversely affecting crop production by plummeting crop growth. The impacts of rhizobacteria to alleviate salinity stress on germination and growth of barnyard millet were assessed using different concentration of NaCl. It is a well acknowledged strategy to improve plant salt tolerance through inoculation with beneficial microorganisms. The results indicated that the PGPR significantly improved germination percent, root and shoot length and fresh and dry weight of seedling and leaf chlorophyll under salt stress in comparison to non-stressed and plants without inoculants. The results of present study showed that PGPR could be helpful to alleviate the salinity stress at the time of seed germination and growth. It can be concluded that PGPRs are the cost effective and economical tool for salinity tolerance and growth promotion in crop plants.