Bio-nutrition for improving the vigour of FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) seedlings

The efficacy of different biofertilizers on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seedbeds was evaluated at the nursery site of ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry during 2010-11. The combined inoculation of nitrogen fixing (Azospirillum/Azotobacter), phosphorus solubilizing (Bacillus subtilis) and K-mobilizing (Frateuria aurantia) bacteria increased the percent germination, seedling height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, dry weight of the seedlings and total number of transplantable seedlings as compared to individual inoculation and uninoculated control after 60 days of sowing. Besides increasing the nitrogen fixing, phosphorus solubilizing and potassium mobilizing abilities, microbial inoculants have played a vital role in suppressing the population of fungal pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum causing damping-off in tobacco seedbeds. Improvement in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of the seedlings was observed due to the inoculation of these beneficial microbes individually or in consortia. The results suggest that PGPR based inoculants can be used and should be further evaluated in nursery management practices.