Harnessing PGPR inoculation through exogenous foliar application of salicylic acid and microbial extracts for improving rice growth.

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) should effectively colonize along the plant root to enhance the plant and soil health. The present investigation aims to improve the PGPR-mediated plant health benefits through above-ground foliar management. A green fluorescent protein-tagged PGPR strain, Pseudomonas chlororaphis (ZSB15-M2) was inoculated in a nonautoclaved agricultural soil before rice culturing.

Rhizosphere engineering through exogenous growth-regulating small molecules improves the colonizing efficiency of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium in rice.

Enhancing the rhizosphere colonization and persistence of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is necessary for maximizing PGPR-mediated benefits for crop growth and fitness in environmentally friendly agriculture. In the present investigation, we attempted manipulation of the rice rhizosphere by spraying of low molecular weight plant-regulating metabolites on the foliage of rice plants to in turn enhance the colonizing efficiency of soil-inoculated PGPR strain. The green fluorescent protein gene-tagged rhizobacterial strain, ZSB15-M2, was inoculated in sterile plant growth medium (vermiculite coco peat mixture) and non-autoclaved agricultural soil.