Functional Diversity of Indigenous Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Isolated from Aligarh Soils

In this study a total of 45 rhizobacteria belonging to Pseudomonas, Azotobacter and Azospirillum from wheat rhizosphere were isolated and biochemically characterized. PGP traits like production of IAA (41.60%), siderophore (20.0%), antifungal activity (30.0%) and solubilization of phosphate (60.0%) were exhibited. Multiple PGP traits was exhibited by 51.25% Pseudomonas followed by Azotobacter (30.0%) and Azospirillum (25.0%). The test isolates were also screened for their salt tolerance. Sixty five percent of Pseudomonas, 66.67% Azotobacter and 47.69% Azospirillum isolates were found to tolerate varying concentration of NaCl in the medium.