Biotech Studies 1996, Vol 5, Num, 1

GREENHOUSE SCREENING OF RHIZOSPHERE BACTERIA FOR PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA AND DELETERIOUS RHIZOBACTERIA OF MAIZE

A. KARAKAYA 1 , C.A. MARTINSON 2

- A total of 576 bacterial isolates from the maize rhizosphere were tested in greenhouse experiments for growth promoting and deleterious activity towards maize seedlings in the presence of two pathogens. Selected isolates were further tested in the greenhouse. In most instances, the bacterial isolates had no statistically significant effect on maize plant height. Isolate effects on plant height were inconsistent. Beneficial or deleterious effects on maize plant height due to bacterial inoculation of the seed often were not repeatable in other soils or experiments. Keywords : Maize; bacterial isolates; plant height