Author(s):

Shilpa Sharma, Minakshi, Rajesh Kaushal and Anjali Chauhan

Abstract: Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev) belongs to family Asteraceae, is a popular flower crop suitable for both pot culture and bedding purposes. The quality of flowers is greatly influenced by the quantity as well as sources of nutrients. Presently, these nutrients are supplied through chemical fertilizers that not only adversely affects the soil health and environment but also reduces the productivity of crops. The situation emphasized the need for developing alternate production system that is eco-friendly and is more judicious in maintaining soil health. So, the present investigations were carried out to screen the potential PGPR isolates from rhizosphere and roots of chrysanthemum collected from different sites of Solan (Nauni, Kandaghat and Chail) and Sirmour (Rajgarh, Sargaon and Narag) districts of Himachal Pradesh. Out of 49 purified isolates (31 rhizospheric and 18 endophytic), eight isolates viz. SN₁, SN₂, SN₁₁, SJ₆, SJ₈, RJ₁, SR₁, SR₅ were selected on the basis of their efficacy to have maximum plant growth promoting traits like P-solubilization, growth on nitrogen free medium, siderophore, auxin, HCN production and antagonism against Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum under laboratory conditions. The optimum pH and temperature for the growth of the isolates was 7.0 and 35 ^oC, respectively. On the basis of the maximum PGP traits, bacterial isolates SN₁ and SN₁₁ were selected and identified as Bacillus subtilis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and deposited in NCBI Gen Bank vide accession number KU200358 and KY200357, respectively.

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