Comparative plant growth promoting potential of psychrotolerant diazotrophs, Pseudomonas sp. JJS2 and Enterobacter sp. AAB8 against native Cajanus cajan (L.) and Eleusine coracana (L.)

Two Himalayan diazotrophs, Pseudomonas sp. JJS2 and Enterobacter sp. AAB8 were examined for their plant growth promoting properties against the native crops, Cajanus cajan and Eleusine coracana. Pseudomonas sp. JJS2 was found to be more effective for C. cajan, whereas Enterobacter sp. AAB8 showed better plant growth promotion in E. coracana. The inoculation of JJS2 significantly (p<0.05) increased the fresh weight (93.73%), dry weight (52.58%) root length (38.02%) and shoot length (38.03%) in the legume C. cajan; while, in the case of E. corocana, the increment was lesser but still significant. Similar results were obtained with AAB8 where it showed better plant growth promotion in E. coracana plants by stimulating the fresh weight (7.0%), dry weight (58.42%), shoot length (8.52%) and root length (28.06%). In the case of C. cajan, the effect of AAB8 strain was also significant as shown by the increment in the plant growth parameters. Biochemical parameters in each treatment viz. nitrate reductase activity and chlorophyll content were also found to be enhanced significantly. The results suggest that Pseudomonas sp. JJS2 and Enterobacter sp. AAB8 strain could be used effectively as a low cost bioinoculant in high altitude agricultural belts.