ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of PGPR Co-inoculation on Growth,
Phosphorus Nutrition and Phosphatase/Phytase
Activities of Faba Bean under Different
Phosphorus Availability Conditions
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Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment (BioMAgE), Faculty of Sciences,
Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Submission date: 2019-04-11
Final revision date: 2019-06-14
Acceptance date: 2019-06-27
Online publication date: 2020-01-17
Publication date: 2020-02-13
Corresponding author
Khalid Oufdou
Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(2):1557-1565
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ABSTRACT
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may improve crop yield and reduce or optimize
the use of chemical fertilizers. We investigated the effect of co-inoculation on growth, phosphorus
nutrition, and phosphatase-phytase activities of Vicia faba under different phosphorus availability
conditions. The studied strains possess several PGPR traits such as nitrogen fixation ability, solubilization
of phosphate and potassium, and production of exopolysaccharides, auxins, and siderophores. Based on
their 16S rDNA sequences, the strains were identified as Rahnella aquatilis (PGP30), Pseudomonas
brassicacearum (PGP291) and Rhizobium sp. (RhOF57A). In a greenhouse experiment, plants were
inoculated with an individual strain or co-inoculated with two strains in addition to uninoculated
controls. Each setup was supplemented either with tricalcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 (TCP treatment)
or irrigated with potassium phosphate KH2PO4 (PO4 treatment). Regardless of the applied phosphorus
source, co-inoculation significantly increased biomass and phosphorus concentrations in plants as well
as in bean pods. Moreover, especially co-inoculation increased phosphatase-phytase activities in roots
supplemented with tricalcium phosphate. This study suggests that co-inoculation of plants is a means to
prevent phosphorus limitation and for judicious use of chemical fertilizers.