Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of Plant Growth Promoting (PGP) Bacteria Colonizing The Rhizosphere of Tef Crop During the Seedling Stage

Abstract

The use of novel PGPR as bio inoculant is an alternative sustainable agricultural practice to improve soil health, grain quality, increase crop productivity, and conserve biodiversity. The aim of this study is to isolate, and characterized PGP bacteria colonizing tef rhizosphere during the seedling stage. For this concern, 426 samples of tef rhizosphere soils and roots were collected from East Shewa zone, Oromia regional state. 200 morphologically different bacterial pure colonies were isolated and screened for their PGP traits and biocontrol properties. Among these 40.5% isolates were positive for phosphate solubilization. 36% were positive for IAA production, 4.5% were positive for ammonia production, 19% were positive for (EXPS), 15.5% were positive for protease production, 12.5% were positive for HCN productions, 9.5% were positive for cellulase production, 4 % were positive for amylase production, 3.5% were positive for chitinase production. For abiotic stress tolerance test, all of the isolates were grew well at 20 and 30oc and neutral pH, 27% isolates were grew well at 4oc, 25.5 % grew at 40oc, 25.5% were grown well on pH-9 and pH-11, 23.5 % were tolerated pH-5, 3.5% grew at 50oc and 60oc, 13.5% were grown well on 5% NaCl (w/v), 3.5% were grown well on 10 and 15% NaCl (w/v), which indicated these isolates can survive in some extreme conditions.