Survival of plant growth promoting bacteria in alginate formulations
Abstract
The carrier based plant growth promoting bacterial (PGPB) consortium with Azotobacter chroococcum, Acinetobacter sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens was immobilized in alginate beads. The bacterial population decreased though significant numbers survived (10−7 cfu/g beads). Surviving population was maximum in alginate formulation after 240 days of storage, followed by alginate skim milk and alginate corn flour formulation. Minimum population was recorded in alginate charcoal and alginate lignite formulation. The study showed that bacteria can survive in alginate inoculants for long period.
Keywords
Bacterial inoculants, plant growth promotion, viability, storage, alginate beads, encapsulation
