First Report of Psychrotrophic Nitrogen Fixing Staphylococcus aureus EU-GPKR-19 and P-Solubilizing Bacillus subtilis EU-SSNR-71 for Alleviation of Cold Stress in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Mountainous Regions
摘要
The psychrotrophic microbes are used to boost the plant growth and development under cold stress. Psychrotrophic bacteria have been reported from diverse cold habitats around the globe. The study isolated 40 rhizospheric bacteria from maize and screened for cold stress and other abiotic stresses. All the isolates were further screened for attributes of plant growth promotion. Among 40 isolates, two isolates were selected on the basis of their tolerance to abiotic stress and PGP traits. Two bacterial strains were identified on molecular basis as Staphylococcus aureus EU-GPKR-19 and Bacillus subtilis EU-SSNR-71. The selected psychrotropic nitrogen fixer and P-solubilizer were then evaluated on barley under cold stress. The results showed the strains singly as well as in combination were efficient in improving the growth of barley under low temperature. To best of our knowledge psychrotrophic nitrogen fixing Staphylococcus aureus EU-GPKR-19 and P-solubilizing Bacillus subtilis EU-SSNR-71 has been reported for the first time. Cold adaptive microbes thus have a potential to be used as bioinoculants under cold stress in hilly regions.