Biomass increase in rabi maize through folair application of IAA and GA3 producing Azospirillum and Acetobacter endophytes

Green Farming Vol. 1 (1) : 64-66 (Jan.-Feb., 2010) (Renewed)

DIPMALA G. GUPTA and H.N. SHELAT

Department of Microbiology, B.A.College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand – 388 110 (Gujarat)

ABSTRACT .

Screening of endophytes was done in situ using whatman paper method which confirmed the positive effect of tryptophan on IAA production. In freshly prepared cultures, the concentration of IAA was maximum gradually decreasing on long term storage. In vivo, efficacy testing of the screened isolates in maize was carried out during rabi 2007-08, wherein, foliar application of Azopsirillum Az-4 in maize cv. GM-3 proved significantly superior over respective control. The findings of this study provide significant evidence that IAA and GA3 were produced by nitrogen fixing endophytic isolates of Azospirillum and Acetobacter which promotes biological activity in maize with an added advantage of reduction in 25 % nitrogenous fertilizer.