Effect of bacterial consortia on growth and yield of maize grown in Fusarium infested soil

Soil borne pathogens are responsible for considerable yield losses in field crops. Healthy growth and ultimate yield of the crop depends upon the efficient supply of water, nutrients and absence of biotic and abiotic stress. Under biotic stress plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and compost inhabiting bacteria (CIB) can help the plant to function normally by suppressing the pathogen. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of PGPR and CIB on growth and yield of maize, grown in fungus infested soil. Two strains, each of PGPR (Mb4 and Mb7) and CIB (Cb4 and Cb9) were evaluated to improve the growth and yield of maize crop. Maize seeds were sterilized and inoculated with bacterial strains before sowing along with un-inoculated control for comparison. Recommended dose of fertilizers (180, 140, 90 NPK kg ha) was applied at sowing and pots were arranged in completely randomized design. Results showed that inoculation with selected strains of bacteria, exhibited percent increase in yield of fresh cob (up to 52.69%) and dry cob (40.87%), cob length (51.42%), grain yield (up to 55.34%), 1000-grain weight (up to 37.27%), K contents in grains and straw (1.756 and 0.793, respectively), %N in grains and straw (up to 2.675 and 0.997%, respectively) and %P in grains and straw (up to 1.756 and 0.793%, respectively) compared to un-inoculated control. Keeping in view the higher yield parameters of inoculated treatments compared to un-inoculated control, it was concluded that inoculation of maize seeds with bacterial consortia suppressed the adverse effect of fungal pathogen and enhanced the growth and yield of maize crop.