Impact of a Phosphate Solubilizing Bacterium and an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus ( Glomus etunicatum ) on Growth, Yield and P Concentration in Wheat Plants

Available phosphorus is limiting in most of cultivable soils in several parts of India, including Rajasthan. The beneficial effects of rhizosphere microorganisms such as phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) have been found to increase in the presence of mycorrhizal symbiosis. In view of this, the synergistic effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus etunicatum and an indigenous PSB strain, Burkholderia cepacia BAM‐6 was studied on wheat plants grown in pots containing soil with low available P to see their potential to be used as bio‐inoculants in semi‐arid regions. The dual inoculation (AMF + PSB) augmented all growth and yield parameters studied in comparison to the individual inoculations with AMF and PSB. Crop yield and N concentration were enhanced >50 and 90%, respectively, following the dual inoculation, and percent root colonization by AMF and rhizosphere population of PSB were also found to increase with time in soil. This investigation reveals that the PSB strain B. cepacia BAM‐6 interacted synergistically with AMF in promoting plant growth and nutrient uptake of wheat plants, therefore show great promise to be used as bio‐fertilizer for wheat crop grown in arid to semi arid regions.