基于T-RFLP技术的不同水位梯度植物根际细菌群落多样性特征分析

为了解水位梯度控制下不同湿地植物根际细菌群落多样性,以北京市奥林匹克公园植物氧化塘人工湿地为例,采用末端限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)技术结合ANOVA分析,比较了水位梯度控制下三棱草、芦苇、香蒲、睡莲4种植物根际细菌群落的多样性。研究结果显示:随着水位梯度加深,根际细菌群落多样性呈现减少趋势,HhaⅠ、MspⅠ、RsaⅠ3种不同酶切所得结果一致,且综合3种酶切的PAT比对中RFs组合数量随水位梯度加深也呈相应变化趋势。进一步分析发现,随水位梯度加深植物根际可培养细菌RFs数量变化较显著。不同水位梯度下各植物根际细菌群落中差异显著的菌群为Beta变形杆菌纲,水位梯度加深可能导致不同生态型植物根际泌氧能力降低,进而影响植物根际好氧细菌生存,从而出现三棱草根际属水平菌群丰富度最高,其次为芦苇、香蒲,最少为睡莲。各植物根际细菌群落的优势属多数为变形杆菌门,是脱氮除磷的功能性菌门,其中产碱杆菌属和黄杆菌属为四种植物根际细菌的共同优势属,在碳氮循环中起重要作用。     

根际效应对大豆田土壤线虫群落组成及多样性的影响

根际作为重要的环境界面是植物与环境之间物质能量交换的场所,关于根际效应的研究已成为土壤生态学的新兴热点领域,然而有关大豆根际效应对土壤动物多样性影响的研究报道并不多见。在三江平原选择连续耕作15a的大豆田,对大豆根际区与非根际区土壤线虫群落结构组成进行了对比分析。结果表明:大豆根际区土壤线虫总数、辛普森多样性指数(Dom)显著高于非根际区,根际区的物种数(S)、物种丰富度指数(SR)显著低于非根际区。说明大豆根际效应增加土壤线虫的丰度,但降低了线虫群落结构的复杂性。大豆根际区植物寄生线虫(PP)、食真菌线虫(FF)和食细菌线虫(BF)数量显著高于非根际区,而PP类群的比例在根际区却显著低于非根际区。这一研究结果表明食微线虫(FF和BF)类群在大豆根际区的比例增加更显著。食真菌与食细菌线虫数量比值(F/B)指示大豆根际区细菌生物量相对高于真菌生物量。研究结果丰富了农田土壤线虫多样性的研究内容,并为我国东北大豆田线虫病害的防治及定制相应的农业管理措施提供参考。     

连作对大豆根际土壤细菌菌群结构的影响

土壤细菌的菌群结构是土壤生态环境质量的重要组成部分。为探明大豆连作种植后根际土壤细菌群落结构变化,试验选取连作0年大豆根际土样与连作2年大豆根际土壤,利用Illumina高通量测序技术对比研究了其中的细菌群落结构。结果表明,连作0年根际土壤中的细菌丰富度和多样性指数均高于连作2年大豆根际土壤中相应值。大豆根际土壤中的噬纤维菌科(Cytophagaceae)、鞘氨纯单胞菌(Sphingomonas)、慢生根瘤菌(Bradyrhizobium)及链霉菌属(Streptomyces)等一些有益菌的相对丰度要变化并不显著。大豆连作会降低土壤的细菌多样性,改变细菌菌群结构。但是在短期连作过程中,不同作物根际微生物类群的变化规律各不相同,难以用来推断作物连作所存在普遍现象。以期试验结果同时为缓解短期大豆连作障碍提高大豆产量提供一定的理论依据。     

转crylAb基因克螟稻对根际可培养细菌类群的影响

田间栽培条件下,研究了转crylAb基因克螟稻1(KMD1)、克螟稻2(KMD2)及其亲本常规晚粳秀水11(XS11)不同生育期、不同根际部位(包括根际土壤、根表面和根内)可培养细菌类群数量、组成和动态变化.结果表明,各品种不同生育期根际平均细菌数量以拔节期最多,抽穗期最少;转Bt稻KMD1和KMD2根际平均细菌数量均显著高于XS11,且根表面和根内平均细菌数量也显著高于XS11,而根际土壤中平均细菌数量则低于XS11;试验共纯化菌株303个,经鉴定归于20个属,各品种根际出现的细菌类群大多为相同属,但数量有异,其中KMD1、KMD2根际的葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)、棒杆菌属(Corynebacterium)和壤霉菌属(Agromyces)均显著高于XS11,而XS11根际的束毛球菌属(Trichococcus)显著高于KMD1、KMD2;群落多样性分析表明,各水稻品种根际细菌群落的优势度指数C、多样性指数H′和均匀度指数J差异均不显著,表明转crylAb基因水稻对土壤细菌群落有一定影响,与水稻生育期和根际部位有关.     

大豆不同生育期根际土壤细菌群落结构的变化

为了解大豆根际细菌群落结构多样性及根际细菌群落结构的变化,该研究以大豆苗期和成熟期的根际土壤为材料,采用Illumina高通量测序技术测定细菌16S rRNA V3+V4区序列,探究大豆不同生育期根际土壤细菌群落结构的变化。对原始数据进行拼接、过滤、去除嵌合体序列和聚类分析等数据处理,并对OTU进行分类学注释。在此基础上运用ANOVA分析物种组成变化,Alpha多样性指数研究细菌多样性变化。结果表明:细菌丰富度和多样性在不同生育期有显著变化,其中成熟期土壤中的细菌丰富度和多样性指数均明显高于苗期; 变形菌、放线菌、酸杆菌是大豆根际的优势菌门,其含量在不同生育期也有显著变化; 假诺卡氏菌属、糖丝菌属、鞘氨醇单胞菌属是大豆根际的优势菌属,这些菌属中的部分菌群属于根际促生菌,具有潜在的促生效应。这些结果证实大豆的生育期对根际土壤细菌群落结构有重要影响。     

基于高通量测序分析大豆和油菜根际微生物群落结构的差异

根肿病是由芸薹根肿菌侵染引起的专性寄生性土传病害,严重制约着油菜等十字花科作物的可持续生产.前期研究发现,大豆作为前茬作物可以显著降低后茬油菜根肿病的发生和危害,"豆-油轮作"模式是一种值得探索和应用的根肿病防治新途径.为了解开大豆作为前茬防治根肿病发生的机理,本研究基于扩增子测序技术探究大豆与油菜根际土壤微生物的群落结构差异.结果表明:大豆和油菜根际土壤微生物类群在门水平的优势类群相同,包括变形菌门、拟杆菌门、酸杆菌门、放线菌门、子囊菌门、接合菌门、担子菌门和壶菌门等丰度都较高.但相比于油菜根际土壤,大豆根际土壤富含具有生防作用和促进植物生长的微生物,如黄杆菌属、鞘脂单胞菌属、芽孢杆菌属、链霉菌属、假单胞菌属、木霉属和盾壳霉属等;而一些植物病原细菌(如肠杆菌、黄单胞菌)和真菌(炭疽菌和尾孢菌)含量则低于油菜根际土壤;另外,大豆根际土壤中还富含具有固氮功能的根瘤菌属、慢生根瘤菌属和丛枝菌根真菌(如球囊霉属).可见,大豆根际土壤利于有益微生物生长并可抑制病原菌繁殖.大豆和油菜根际微生物组差异为大豆-油菜轮作防治根肿病提供了理论依据,并为根肿病的防治提供了一些潜在的生物防治资源.     

基于16SrRNA测序研究蒙桑根际细菌多样性

根际细菌丰富多样,对植物的生长发育有重要影响。为更好的了解野生蒙桑和移植栽培蒙桑根际细菌的多样性组成和差异,本研究提取了两样本的宏基因组DNA,利用Roche 454 GS FLX测序技术对样本菌群的16S r RNA基因的V1~V3区域进行测序。测序结果表明:野生蒙桑根际细菌的主导类群为变形菌门(31.62%)和酸酐菌门(19.8%);栽培蒙桑的主导类群为厚壁菌门(89.07%),两样本的沙浓指数分别为5.8和1.33。栽培蒙桑样本OTU498的基因序列数占总样本的78.9%,其最相近菌属为苏云金芽孢杆菌;野生蒙桑OTU656、OTU556、OTU568和OTU665占总样本的8.17%,最相近菌属是丝状共生菌。进化分析发现两样本菌群具有各自的特异性,大都来源于同一菌门的不同菌属,分别聚类。本研究表明移栽后蒙桑根际细菌的多样性降低,主导类群也发生了变化,基于16S r RNA测序可以揭示根际细菌的组成结构。     

抗草甘膦转基因大豆对根际土壤细菌及根瘤菌的影响

转基因大豆是全球种植最广泛的转基因作物,抗除草剂是其最主要的转基因特性.微生物群落是土壤质量的监测指标之一,抗草甘膦转基因大豆及配施草甘膦是否影响大豆根际土壤细菌及根瘤菌群落尚不清楚.本研究基于大田试验,以非转基因亲本大豆‘中豆32’为对照(CK),分析转G10-epsps基因耐除草剂大豆SHZD32-01(GR)及配施草甘膦(GR+G)在大豆各生育时期对根际土壤细菌和根瘤菌的影响.结果表明: 与CK相比,GR、GR+G处理对苗期和成熟期根际土壤pH、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、NH₄⁺-N含量等产生影响;GR处理显著增加结荚期根际土壤细菌群落丰度及多样性,GR+G处理显著增加结荚期根际土壤细菌群落多样性,但显著降低苗期和结荚期根际土壤细菌群落丰度;GR、GR+G处理改变了部分优势细菌类群的相对丰度,但不同生育期根际土壤优势细菌类群均为变形菌门、酸杆菌门、拟杆菌门、绿弯菌门、浮霉菌门和放线菌门;GR、GR+G处理改变了根瘤菌类群的相对丰度,但未影响慢生根瘤菌和中华根瘤菌两种主要大豆根瘤菌的相对丰度,且GR+G处理结荚期根际土壤根瘤菌相对丰度显著降低.环境因子分析显示,根际土壤放线菌和根瘤菌群落丰度主要受土壤pH影响.抗草甘膦转基因大豆或配施草甘膦显著影响结荚期根际土壤细菌和根瘤菌,但其影响随大豆的生长而消失.     

石油污染土壤修复植物的根-土界面微生物特征

选取沈抚灌区的主要修复植物蓖麻为实验材料,分析了蓖麻根区土壤、根际土壤、根面、根内4个层面上细菌和真菌的数量,优势菌种的生理生化特征,及细菌菌株生长营养类型,揭示了根-土界面微生物区系特征与石油污染土壤生物修复的关系.结果发现：修复植物根-土界面上,细菌数量为根际>根面>根内,真菌数量为根内>根面>根际,根面细菌与真菌数量均处于根际与根内区域微生物数量之间;修复植物蓖麻根面区域优势细菌种类最多,根内区域优势真菌种类最多;根际与根内的优势细菌具有较强的降解大分子物质的能力;根面细菌在营养需求分类上可归为氨基酸需求菌群.     

银北盐渍化土壤中6种耐盐植物根际细菌群落结构及其多样性

土壤微生物对土壤肥力的形成和植物营养的转化起着积极的作用。对盐渍化土壤中植物根际微生物群落组成和多样性进行研究,有助于发现新的重要微生物功能类群或者功能潜力,对于盐碱土壤的植被恢复和生态重建都具有十分重要的意义。通过高通量测序和分离培养方法,对宁夏银北地区盐渍化土壤中的6种耐盐植物根际细菌的群落结构和多样性进行了分析。结果表明:所有土壤样品共检测到31门(亚门) 67纲253科400属细菌类群,不同植物根际微生物群落组成相似,但丰度各有差异,厚壁菌门、变形菌门、放线菌门和拟杆菌门为主要优势类群;在纲水平芽孢杆菌纲相对丰度最高,其次为α-变形菌、γ-变形菌和梭菌纲;在属水平上,芽孢杆菌属以极高的丰度(15.57%—53.85%)占据绝对优势,其次是鞘氨醇单胞菌属、不动杆菌属和节杆菌属。6种植物根际细菌的群落结构组成表现为芨芨草和柽柳相似,柳枝稷、苜蓿与枸杞相似,苦豆子则与另外5种差别最大。分离培养出的110株根际细菌多数具有较强的盐碱耐受性和一种以上生物学活性,分别隶属于芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属、鞘氨醇杆菌属、节杆菌属和中华根瘤菌属,在属水平上多样性单一,其中芽孢杆菌属是优势属。传统的分离培养和高通量测序结果都反映出银北地区盐渍化土壤中定殖着许多有重要生态功能的微生物类群,可用于进一步筛选和利用根际微生物改良盐碱土壤。     

Characterization of rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial communities from leaves,stems and roots of medicinal Stellera chamaejasme L.

A diverse array of bacteria that inhabit the rhizosphere and different plant organs play a crucial role in plant health and growth. Therefore, a general understanding of these bacterial communities and their diversity is necessary. Using the 16S rRNA gene clone library technique, the bacterial community structure and diversity of the rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria in Stellera chamaejasme compartments were compared and clarified for the first time. Grouping of the sequences obtained showed that members of the Proteobacteria (43.2%), Firmicutes (36.5%) and Actinobacteria (14.1%) were dominant in both samples. Other groups that were consistently found, albeit at lower abundance, were Bacteroidetes (2.1%), Chloroflexi (1.9%), and Cyanobacteria (1.7%). The habitats (rhizosphere vs endophytes) and organs (leaf, stem and root) structured the community, since the Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated that more varied bacteria inhabited the rhizosphere compared to the organs of the plant. In addition, correspondence analysis also showed that differences were apparent in the bacterial communities associated with these distinct habitats. Moreover, principal component analysis revealed that the profiles obtained from the rhizosphere and roots were similar, whereas leaf and stem samples clustered together on the opposite side of the plot from the rhizosphere and roots. Taken together, these results suggested that, although the communities associated with the rhizosphere and organs shared some bacterial species, the associated communities differed in structure and diversity.     

间作大豆对甘蔗根际土壤细菌及固氮菌多样性的影响

为探讨间作大豆(Glycine max)对甘蔗(Saccharum officinarum)根际土壤细菌及固氮细菌多样性的影响, 收集和开发固氮菌资源, 筛选高效甘蔗联合固氮体系, 选用3个甘蔗栽培品种‘ROC22’、‘GT21’、‘B8’与大豆品种‘Guizao 2’进行间种栽培, 采用巢式PCR特异扩增细菌16S rRNA基因片段和固氮细菌nifH基因片段, 并结合变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术, 对间作大豆的甘蔗根际土壤细菌及固氮细菌进行系统演化和多样性分析。聚类分析结果显示, 间作大豆改变了甘蔗根际土壤细菌及固氮细菌原来的群落组成结构, 尤其对固氮菌群落组成的改变更大, 但对群落物种的优势度影响较小。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Simpson多样性指数分析结果表明, 甘蔗-大豆间作显著影响甘蔗根际土壤中细菌和固氮菌的多样性, 其中对固氮细菌多样性的影响较大。不同甘蔗品种的根际土壤细菌和固氮菌在间作大豆条件下表现出不同的多样性, ‘ROC22’和‘GT21’间作处理甘蔗根际土壤固氮细菌的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数显著高于单作处理, 而‘ROC22’与大豆间作处理的甘蔗根际土壤固氮菌多样性最为丰富。在大豆生长盛期, 间作处理的甘蔗根际土壤细菌多样性最为丰富, 不同处理间的差异也最大, 随后下降。总体来看, 甘蔗-大豆间作显著地影响根际土壤细菌和固氮菌的群落结构和群落多样性, 有助于对甘蔗合理间作栽培模式的认识和筛选高效甘蔗联合固氮体系。     

Diversity of the bacterial community in the rice rhizosphere managed under conventional and no-tillage practices

Bacterial diversity in the rice rhizosphere at different rice growth stages, managed under conventional and no-tillage practices, was explored using a culture-based approach. Actinobacteria are among the bacterial phyla abundant in the rice rhizosphere. Their diversity was further examined by constructing metagenomic libraries based on the 16S rRNA gene, using actinobacterial- and streptomycete-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. The study included 132 culturable strains and 125 clones from the 16S rRNA gene libraries. In conventional tillage, there were 38% Proteobacteria, 22% Actinobacteria, 33% Firmicutes, 5% Bacteroidetes, and 2% Acidobacteria, whereas with no-tillage management there were 63% Proteobacteria, 24% Actinobacteria, 6% Firmicutes, and 8% Bacteroidetes as estimated using the culture-dependent method during the four stages of rice cultivation. Principal coordinates analysis was used to cluster the bacterial communities along axes of maximal variance. The different growth stages of rice appeared to influence the rhizosphere bacterial profile for both cultivation practices. Novel clones with low similarities (89–97%) to Actinobacteria and Streptomyces were retrieved from both rice fields by screening the 16S rRNA gene libraries using actinobacterial- and streptomycete-specific primers. By comparing the actinobacterial community retrieved by culture-dependent and molecular methods, it was clear that a more comprehensive assessment of microbial diversity in the rice rhizosphere can be obtained using a combination of both techniques than by using either method alone. We also succeeded in culturing a number of bacteria that were previously described as unculturable. These were in a phylogenetically deep lineage when compared with related cultivable genera.     

不同生长季节黑果枸杞的根际细菌群落结构

【目的】黑果枸杞是一种耐盐植物,是我国西北干旱区盐渍土改良的优良植物物种,其根际土壤细菌群落结构在不同生长时期的变化特征尚不清楚。【方法】本研究采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序研究了黑果枸杞3个生长阶段的根际土壤细菌群落结构的动态变化。【结果】所有样品中共获得317467条序列,对应于7028个细菌/古细菌OTUs。根际土壤细菌群落的α多样性显著高于非根际土壤。衰老期根际细菌的多样性和丰富度明显低于营养生长期和花/果期。变形菌门和酸杆菌门的相对丰度随生长时期的演变而逐渐降低,而蓝细菌门则相反。厚壁菌门的丰度在衰老期明显高于营养生长期和花/果期。优势属的组成也随生长期的演变而改变,营养生长期、花/果期、衰老期的优势属数量分别为17、16、4,且组成也具有差异。相似性分析表明营养生长期和花/果期的根际细菌群落具有很高的相似性,衰老期根际细菌群落组成与生长期和花/果期具有很高差异,然而与非根际土壤的群落结构具有较高的相似性。【结论】根际土壤细菌群落多样性和组成随生长期的改变而表现出明显的动态变异性,表明黑果枸杞生长时期对根际土壤细菌群落结构具有重要的影响。     

Effect of monoculture soybean on soil microbial community in the Northeast China

Monoculture (MC) soybean, a common practice in the Northeast China, causes significant declines in soybean yield and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses of the soil microbial community and soybean yield to different soybean cropping systems. Three cropping systems were compared, (1) corn-soybean rotation (corn-corn-soybean, CS), (2) MC soybean for 3 years (S3), (3) MC soybean for 9 years (S9). Both bulk and rhizosphere soil samples were collected at three growth stages: two trifoliate (V2), full bloom (R2), and full seed (R6), respectively. Soil microbial DNA was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)—denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to assess changes in composition of bacterial and fungal communities. Prominent DGGE bands were excised and sequenced to gain insight into the identities of the predominant microbial populations. Some prominent differences were observed in bacterial DGGE patterns of amplified 16S rDNA (V3 region) among rhizosphere soils. These major differences included one DGGE band (showing 100% similarity to Arthrobacter sp.) that was enriched at R2 stages in CS and S9, and another band with 97% sequence similarity to an uncultured actinobacterium was detected at R6 stage in CS, and at R2 and R6 stages in S9. The bacterial community from bulk soil showed no significant band change in DGGE patterns among different cropping systems. In fungal DGGE patterns of the amplified 18S rDNA partial fragment, one specific band (showing 98% similarity to Trichoderma viride) occurred in rhizosphere soil of treatment CS at V2 and R6 stages and treatment S9 at R6 stage. None of the above bands were detected in treatment S3. The soybean yields and plant heights from CS and S9 were greater than those from S3. Moreover, catalase activities from CS and S9 at V2 and R2 stages were higher than those tested from S3 at the corresponding times in rhizosphere soil. The present results showed that DGGE patterns were not able to detect significant differences in diversity or evenness among microbial communities, but significant differences were found in the composition of bacterial and fungal community structures. Some distinguished bands from bacterial and fungal DGGE patterns were only enriched in CS and S9 soil, which could potentially play an important role in soybean growth development.     

Isolation and diversity of culturable rhizobacteria associated with economically important crops and uncultivated plants in Québec,Canada

Plants are chronically associated with microorganisms, residing all tissues. Holonomic analysis of diversity of established rhizobacteria in uncultivated plants is scarce. Thus, the present study was conducted to access the root-associated bacterial diversity of 6 crops (maize, canola, soybean, reed canarygrass, alfafa, and miscanthus) and 20 uncultivated plant species in the region of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada, using pure-culture methods. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, 446 bacterial isolates were distributed onto four phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes), 32 families and 90 genera. Proteobacteria constituted the largest group of isolates (240), 40% of ectophytic and 61% of endophytic bacteria. Representatives of the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas dominated in rhizosphere soil; Microbacterium and Pseudomonas were the predominant endophytes. Some genera were associated with specific plant species, such as Stenotrophomonas, Yersinia, Labrys and Luteibacter. Several endophytes were occasionally observed in the rhizosphere, and vice versa. This is the first survey of culturable endophytic bacteria associated with uncultivated plants in Québec. The culturable bacterial community studied herein are assumed to represent a portion of the entire phytomicrobiome of the evaluated plants. Results confirmed that the crops and uncultivated plants of Québec represent an extremely rich reservoir of diverse rhizobacteria.     

持续干旱对樱桃根际土壤细菌数量及结构多样性影响

以1年生吉塞拉实生容器苗为试材,采用绿色荧光蛋白基因标记技术,研究了干旱胁迫(连续干旱0、7、14、21、28 d和35 d)对樱桃根际促生细菌YT3的标记菌YT3-gfp数量的影响,同时结合平板计数法和末端限制性片段长度多态性分析(terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism,T-RFLP)技术,研究了干旱对樱桃土壤中的微生物数量及细菌群落结构多样性影响。结果表明:樱桃根际土壤中的YT3-gfp数量是非根际土壤中的8.75—28.77倍,随着持续干旱强度的增加,YT3-gfp的数量先增加后减小。干旱对根际土壤中YT3-gfp数量的影响大于对非根际土壤的影响,分别在持续干旱至第21天和28天时,YT3-gfp的数量达到最大值。随着持续干旱强度的增加,根际土壤中细菌和放线菌数量先增加后减小,而真菌的数量一直减少。此外,持续干旱至第21天或28天时,樱桃根际土壤具有最高的丰富度指数、多样性指数和最低的优势度指数。基于T-RFLP的主成分分析结果显示持续干旱14—35 d时,其细菌群落结构成为一个相对独立的群,群落结构趋于多样性;而持续干旱7 d和42 d构成另外两个相对独立的群,群落结构趋于简单。以上分析可知,干旱对土壤微生物影响显著,一定强度的干旱可提高细菌和放线菌数量,提高细菌群落结构多样性,适当干旱对维持根际土壤细菌群落结构多样性是有益的。     

Plant growth promoting bacteria from Crocus sativus rhizosphere

Present study deals with the isolation of rhizobacteria and selection of plant growth promoting bacteria from Crocus sativus (Saffron) rhizosphere during its flowering period (October–November). Bacterial load was compared between rhizosphere and bulk soil by counting CFU/gm of roots and soil respectively, and was found to be ~40 times more in rhizosphere. In total 100 bacterial isolates were selected randomly from rhizosphere and bulk soil (50 each) and screened for in-vitro and in vivo plant growth promoting properties. The randomly isolated bacteria were identified by microscopy, biochemical tests and sequence homology of V1–V3 region of 16S rRNA gene. Polyphasic identification categorized Saffron rhizobacteria and bulk soil bacteria into sixteen different bacterial species with Bacillus aryabhattai (WRF5-rhizosphere; WBF3, WBF4A and WBF4B-bulk soil) common to both rhizosphere as well as bulk soil. Pseudomonas sp. in rhizosphere and Bacillus and Brevibacterium sp. in the bulk soil were the predominant genera respectively. The isolated rhizobacteria were screened for plant growth promotion activity like phosphate solubilization, siderophore and indole acetic acid production. 50 % produced siderophore and 33 % were able to solubilize phosphate whereas all the rhizobacterial isolates produced indole acetic acid. The six potential PGPR showing in vitro activities were used in pot trial to check their efficacy in vivo. These bacteria consortia demonstrated in vivo PGP activity and can be used as PGPR in Saffron as biofertilizers.This is the first report on the isolation of rhizobacteria from the Saffron rhizosphere, screening for plant growth promoting bacteria and their effect on the growth of Saffron plant.