Cross inoculation with beneficial Rhizobium strain promotes plant growth in Vigna mungo

Abstract

Inoculation with beneficial microorganisms facilitates plant growth and is an alternative to chemical fertilizers for sustainable agriculture. In the present study, cross inoculation of Rhizobium aegyptiacum, an osmotolarant bacterial strain enhances growth in Vigna mungo cv. T9, a widely cultivated variety. In cross inoculated T9 plants, the stem length is increased in comparison to uninoculated plants and plants inoculated with the native Bradyrhizobium sp. Both the fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot is higher in R. aegyptiacum inoculated plants as compared to Bradyrhizobium inoculated plants. Thus, R. aegyptiacum can be successfully cross inoculated in drought susceptible agronomically desirable black gram varieties for better growth.