Ameliorating the growth of sunflower using stress-tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa PF23

Plant growth promoting and biocontrol strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PF23 was checked for its stress tolerance ability. It was observed that PF23 survived the detrimental effects of stresses and secreted enormous amount of slimy exopolysaccharides (EPS) under unusual conditions. In vivo study (pot) was conducted taking sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as a test crop under stressed and nonstressed conditions. It was observed that treatment of seeds with PF23 brought enhancement in plant growth parameters, under stress conditions in comparison to untreated seeds. These results suggest the potency and efficacy of utilizing such plant growth promoting rhizobacteria possessing multistress ameliorating abilities for reclamation of stressed prone soil generated due to climatic variability and anthropogenic activities, so as to enhance food production in an ecofriendly manner leading to food security for the future.