Characterization of Plant Growth-Promoting, Antifungal, and Enzymatic Properties of Beneficial Bacterial Strains Associated with Pulses Rhizosphere from Bundelkhand Region of India

The present study was conducted to characterize the native plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) from the pulse rhizosphere of the Bundelkhand region of India. Twenty-four bacterial isolates belonging to nineteen species ( B. amyloliquefaciens , B. subtilis , B. tequilensis , B. safensis , B. haynesii , E. soli , E. cloacae , A. calcoaceticus , B. valezensis , S. macrescens , P. aeruginosa , P. fluorescens , P. guariconensis , B. megaterium , C. lapagei , P. putida , K. aerogenes , B. cereus , and B. altitudinis ) were categorized and evaluated for their plant growth-promoting potential, antifungal properties, and enzymatic activities to identify the most potential strain for commercialization and wider application in pulse crops. Phylogenetic identification was done on the basis of 16 s rRNA analysis. Among the 24 isolates, 12 bacterial strains were gram positive, and 12 were gram negative. Among the tested 24 isolates, IIPRAJCP-6 ( Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ), IIPRDSCP-1 ( Bacillus subtilis ), IIPRDSCP-10 ( Bacillus tequilensis ), IIPRRLUCP-5 ( Bacillus safensis ), IIPRCDCP-2 ( Bacillus subtilis ), IIPRAMCP-1 ( Bacillus safensis ), IIPRMKCP-10 ( Bacillus haynesi i), IIPRANPP-3 ( Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ), IIPRKAPP-5 ( Enterobacter soli ), IIPRAJCP-2 ( Enterobacter cloacae ), IIPRDSCP-11 ( Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ), IIPRDSCP-9 ( Bacillus valezensis ), IIPRMKCP-3 ( Seratia macrescens ), IIPRMKCP-1 ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa ), IIPRCKPP-3 ( Pseudomonas fluorescens ), IIPRMKCP-9 ( Pseudomonas guariconensis ), IIPRMKCP-8 ( Bacillus megatirium ), IIPRMWCP-9 ( Cedecea lapagei ), IIPRKUCP-10 ( Pseudomonas putida ), IIPRAMCP-4 ( Klebsiella aerogenes ), IIPRCKPP-7 ( Enterobacter cloacae ), IIPRAMCP-5 ( Bacillus cereus ), IIPRSHEP-6 ( Bacillus subtilis ), IIPRRSBa89 ( Bacillus altitudinis ) bacterial isolates, IIPRMKCP-9, IIPRAJCP-6, IIPRMKCP-10, IIPRAMCP-5, IIPRSHEP-6, and IIPRMKCP-3 showed the maximum antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis (FOL), and Fusarium udum (FU) causing wilt disease of chickpea, lentil, and pigeonpea, respectively, and maximum plant growth-promoting enzyme (phosphatase), plant growth hormone (IAA), and siderophore production show promising results under greenhouse conditions. This study is the first report of bacterial diversity in the pulse-growing region of India.