Effect of indigenous Pseudomonas chlororaphis strains on morphological and main chemical growth parameters of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Abstract

This study examined the effect of two indigenous plant growth promoting rhizobacterial strains of P. chlororaphis (Q16 and B25) on morphological (plant height; root length; number of leaves, buds and lateral branches) and main chemical (contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg) growth parameters of two basil cultivars (Italiano classico and SRX 1920). The experiment was conducted in pots under glasshouse conditions from March to July 2014. Phosphorus was determined by spectrophotometer, potassium by flame emission photometry, nitrogen by using elemental CNS analyzer Vario EL III, while calcium and magnesium were determined by AAS. The obtained results showed that the treatment of basil cultivars with both P. chlororaphis strains had positive effect on all studied growth basil parameters in relation to the control, whereby the strain B25 was more effective than Q16. Concluding, tested P. chlororaphis strains have high potential in promoting the morphological and main chemical growth parameters of basil.

Keywords

• basil
• chemical growth parameters
• growth
• morphological characteristics
• PGPR
• plant growth stimulants
• pot experiments
• Pseudomonas chlororaphis
• strains