| Abstrakt: |
Corm rot caused by pathogen Fusarium oxysporum is the most devastating disease of saffron. In the present study, previously isolated and characterized Bacillus sp. strain D5 (Bar D5) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens W2 (Bam W2), native to Crocus sativus, have been compared to select the potential biostimulant for saffron cultivation. Comparative evaluation under the same conditions was done in-vitro, for various plant growth promoting (PGP) activities and in-planta for growth promotion and reduction of most devastating disease (corm rot) caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum R1 (Fox R1). Bar D5 emerged as a clear winner in in-vitro and in-planta evaluations. In in-vitro PGP activities, Bar D5 had supremacy with phosphate solubilization > by 3.9 ± 0.04 folds, ammonia production > by 1.4 ± 0.09 folds, IAA production > by 1.5 ± 0.02 folds, amylase production > by 2.8 ± 0.1 folds and cellulose production by 1.4 ± 0.08 folds higher than Bam W2. However, siderophore and protease production were higher in Bam W2 by 1.9 ± 0.11 and 1 ± 0.06 folds, respectively, when compared to Bar D5. In pot assays, Bar D5 primed corms accumulated higher biomass and exhibited enhanced resistance by induction of various defense enzymes. The activity of defense related enzymes at 5 dpi, such as phenylalanine-ammonia lyase (PAL 1.2 ± 0.07 folds), peroxidase (PO 2 ± 0.04 folds), polyphenol oxidase (PPO 1.4 ± 0.09 folds), lipoxygenase (LOX 1.50.05 ± folds), and β,1-3 glucanase (GLU 1.6 ± 0.3 folds) was higher in Bar D5 primed and Fox R1 inoculated corms compared to Bam W2 primed and Fox R1 inoculated corms. In addition, Bar D5 helped plants to accumulate biomass better than Bam W2, both in the presence and absence of the pathogen. Bar D5 is beyond doubt the potential biostimulant for saffron cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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