Water Stress Tolerance in Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-GraecumL.) Inoculated With Bacillus Polymyxa, A Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacterium

The effect of Bacillus polymyxa, a phosphate solubilizing bacterium (PSB) on phenological and biochemical parameters of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) was studied under water stress. Water stress treatment in fenugreek plants with and without bacterial inoculum was given by withholding water supply for 3 and 5d in pot culture. The regularly irrigated plants of the two groups, i.e. with and without bacterial inoculum were taken as control. Water stress decreased relative water content, amount of chlorophyll, protein content and dry matter of plants. PSB mitigated the effect of water stress on fenugreek. The amount of chl a, chl b, total chlorophyll and protein contents was higher in stressed plants inoculated with PSB as compared with the stressed plants without inoculum. The water status in inoculated plants was always found higher than that of non-inoculated plants in control, stress and recovery treatments. The recovery in stressed plants with bacterial inoculum was faster as compared with that of plants without bacterial inoculum. PSB enhanced photosynthetic rate by increasing amount of photosynthetic pigments in PSB treated plants.