Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> RM-3 as a Potential Biocontrol Agent

Molecular characterization of rhizobacterial isolate RM-3, based on sequencing of a partial 1,313-bp fragment of 16S rDNA amplicon, validated the strain as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strain showed significant growth inhibition of different phytopathogenic fungi in dual plate and liquid culture assays. Maximum growth inhibition was found in case of Macrophomina phaseolina in plate assay (68%), whereas it was 93% in Dreschlera graminae in dual liquid assay. Microscopic studies (light and scanning electron) showed morphological abnormalities such as perforation, fragmentation, swelling, shriveling and lysis of hyphae of pathogenic fungi. The strain also exhibited production of siderophore and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on chrome azurol S and King’s B media, respectively. Besides, this strain also produced extracellular chitinase enzyme and an important antibiotic, phenazine. Seed bacterization with RM-3 showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in seed germination, shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weight, root length, root fresh and dry weight and leaf area. It was also able to colonize the rhizosphere of plants and reduced percent disease incidence in M. phaseolina-infested soil by 83%. Yield parameters such as pods, number of seeds and grain yield per plant also enhanced significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison to control. Thus, the secondary metabolites producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RM-3 exhibited innate potential of plant growth promotion and biocontrol potential in vitro and in vivo.