Effect of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria on Growth and Development of Pearl Millet and Ragi

In the present investigation, the effect of Bacillus sp. (C2) and Pseudomonas sp. (C7) isolated from Calotropis gigantea and Cyanodon dactylon from Shenbagathoppu hills, Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, India on growth and development of pearl millet and ragi were studied. The effect of these isolates was recorded for morphological characters like plant height, fresh and dry weight. In the present study, maximum fresh weight and dry weight of pearl millet and ragi were recorded when treated with isolate C2 compared to C7 on all schedules of 30 and 45 days. Plant height recorded maximum in pearl millet on 45 days when treated with isolate C7 while ragi recorded maximum growth when treated with C2 isolate. Physiological characters like total chlorophyll, IAA, starch, fresh and dry weight were recorded on 45 day after sowing both in pearl millet and ragi treated with C2 and C7 isolates. It was found that, the isolate C2 treated plants recorded maximum total chlorophyll, IAA, starch, fresh and dry weight compared to C7 isolate treated plants both in pearl millet and ragi. Among the parameters tested, ragi plants recorded better total chlorophyll, IAA, starch, fresh and dry weight compared to pearl millet plants.