Performance of plant growth promotory rhizobacteria on maize and soil characteristics under the influence of TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present study effect of TiO 2 nanoparticles was tested on six plant growth promotory rhizobacteria (HS2, HS10. HS12, HS11, HM4 and HR11) recovered from soyabean and maize rhizosphere. HM4 showed highest IAA (56.31 μg/ml) production and HR11 showed highest siderophore (56%) production. All the isolates showed maximum growth at 50 ppm TiO 2 in nutrient broth , HS10 and HS12 showed best growth. Effect of TiO 2 nanoparticles was evaluated on plant vigour of maize treated with selected plant growth promotory bacteria. Bacterial treatment showed enhanced shoot germination, plant height and leaf area over control in the presence of TiO 2 nanoparticles. Average total chlorophyll in maize plant was also maximum (5.04 µg/g) in the presence of TiO 2 nanoparticle. Performance of HS12 was best among all treatments. After 45 days of pot experiment, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (57.91µg/ml), dehydrogenase (38.10µg/ml) and alkaline phosphatase (207.16 µg/ml) was reported in the presence of nanoparticles and bacterial cultures. HM4 and HS12 treatment in the presence of 10 ppm TiO 2 enhanced enzyme activities