Influence of Pseudomonas fluorescens and ferrous sulphate on biochemical parameters of peach leaves

Foliar fertilization and microbe supplemented iron bioavailability can fulfill the iron demand of plants. Plants of low-chill peach cv. Pant Peach-1 were selected to find out the effect of Pseudomonas flouresecens PBAP-27 inoculation along with foliar spray of ferrous sulphate. The experiment consisted of eight treatments viz. T1: control (water spray), T2: P. fluorescens PBAP-27, T3: FeSO4. 7H2O (0.5 %) spray once, T4: FeSO4. 7H2O (0.5 %) spray twice, T5: FeSO4. 7H2O (0.5 %) spray thrice, T6: P. fluorescens PBAP-27+FeSO4.7H2O (0.5 %) spray once, T7: P. fluorescens PBAP-27+FeSO4.7H2O (0.5 %) spray twice, T8: P. fluorescens PBAP-27+FeSO4.7H2O (0.5 %) spray thrice. Leaf area, chlorophyll content, active iron, total iron, ferric iron and iron: manganese ratios of leaves were studied. Maximum leaf area was recorded with P. fluorescens PBAP-27+FeSO4.7H2O (0.5 %) by spraying twice. Whereas, chlorophyll content, active iron, total iron, ferric iron and iron: manganese ratio were recorded higher in P. fluorescens PBAP-27+FeSO4.7H2O (0.5 %) sprayed thrice. Findings indicate that the three foliar spray of ferrous sulphate (0.5 %) along with inoculation of P. fluorescens strain can be used as useful strategy for iron fertilization for improving physiological parameters (leaf area and chlorophyll content) and leaves iron status (active iron, total iron, ferric iron ) in low chill peach.