Field evaluation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains to improve growth, nodulation and yield of mung bean under salt-affected conditions

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have the ability to reduce detrimental effects of salinity on plant growth by lowering the endogenous level of ethylene along with other mechanisms. Two field trials were conducted to evaluate the potential of combined application of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas containing ACC-deaminase for improving growth, nodulation and yield of mung bean under natural salt-affected conditions. The results showed that separate application of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas significantly improved the mung bean growth, nodulation and yield under salt-affected field conditions. However, co-inoculation with Rhizobium and Pseudomonas was the most effective treatment and up to 21, 57, 84, 19, 62, 16 and 145% increase was observed in plant height, total dry matter, pods fresh weight, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, proline content and K^+/Na^+ ratio, respectively, as compared to uninoculated control under field conditions. The synergistic use of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas also improved the nodulation in mung bean under salt-affected field conditions. The results suggested that these strains could be used to formulate biofertilizer for sustainable production of mung bean under salt-affected field conditions.