Early growth promotion and charcoal rot suppression in sorghum by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

Thirty rhizobacterial isolutes from sorghum were evaluated for potential for seedling growth promotion and charcoal rot suppression in sorghum. Seven isolates repeatedly promoted early stage plant growth on the sorghum eultivar M35-I. Few isolates increased seed germination up to 43 per cent and improved biotuass up to 66 per cent on 30-day-old seedlings. Two isolates of fluorescent pseudomonads showed combined efficacy lor seedling growth promotion and disease suppression and reduced charcoal rot incidence considerably. In vitro properties of these isolates such as growth hormone, siderophore, HCN and ammonia prodnction, P-solubilization, antibiosis and production of volatile growth inhibitor have been discussed in relation to plant growth promotion and disease suppression.