Impact of phosphate solubilizing bacteria on soil enzyme activity and plant vigor in four wheat genotypes

Soil microbial communities interact with roots, affecting plant nutrient acquisition. In the present study, attempts were made to analyze the effect of 18 Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) recovered from Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. forest soil on wheat vigor and prove statistically that these PSB inoculants are wheat genotypes specific. For this, a pot trial in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four superior wheat genotypes (UP 262, PBW 502, HDV2329, and CBW 38) was carried out. The response of soil enzyme activities and plant vigor parameters were taken and analyzed by R-software at the p-value of 0.5. Results confirmed that PSB showed a significant positive response on soil enzyme activities e.g. FDA (Fluroscein di acetate htdrolysis), AP (Alkaline phospatase) and urease which promote plant vigor in all genotypes. FDA activity for plants inoculated with L3 (333002 nmol⁻¹gm⁻¹) and P2 (334002 nmol⁻¹gm⁻¹) was higher as compared to control (28791 nmol⁻¹gm⁻¹) after final harvesting. A similar trend was observed for AP and urease activities. The quantitative phosphate solubilizing index of bacteria was highest in P2 (811.32 µgm L⁻¹) followed by L3 (628.32 µgm L⁻¹). A positive correlation (r= +0.8) was observed between plant vigor and soil enzyme activities. R- software model analysis confirms that the quantitative response of each PSB was wheat genotype-specific.