DEVELOPMENT OF FLUID BED DRIED (FBD) INOCULANT FORMULATION OF CONSORTIUM OF AGRICULTURALLY IMPORTANT MICROORGANISMS (AIM)

An investigation was carried out to prepare a novel fluid bed dried (FBD) inoculant formulation containing microbial consortium and study survival of constituent microorganisms Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter sp. and Azotobacter chroococcum in different consortial combinations up to 180 days. Growth curves determined revealed that stationary phases were 48 h, 24 h and 72 h for P. fluorescens, Acinetobacter sp. and A. chroococcum respectively. Survival of these microorganisms was highest in triple inoculant consortium in talc. A dual inoculant consortium of P. fluorescens and A. chroococcum recorded higher number of cells initially. Per cent survival of cells on log values was recorded highest in triple inoculant formulation followed by dual and single inoculant formulations. No contamination was recorded from all FBD inoculant formulation by the end of 180 days at 10-5 dilution. Effectiveness study of these inoculant formulations was carried out in finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.) in a green house investigation. This study revealed maximum number of leaves, plant height, nitrogen content, phosphorus content, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, and total dry weight in plants receiving triple inoculant consortium followed by dual, single and uninoculated control. Chlorophyll content was highest from plants containing dual inoculant consortium of P. fluorescens + Acinetobacter sp. and Acinetobacter sp. + A. chroococcum and least was observed in uninoculated plants. Results were more pronounced when inoculation done along with nutrient (+NPK) than without nutrient (-NPK). Performance of plants receiving triple inoculant consortium without nutrients was on par with uninoculated plants with nutrients. June, 2012 Dr. G. P. BRAHMAPRAKASH Dept. of Agricultural Microbiology (Major Advisor) UAS, GKVK, Bangalore560 065 PÀȶAiÀÄ°è ¥ÀæaÀÄÄRaÁzÀ ̧ÀÆPÀëöäfëUÀ1⁄4À MtVzÀ, ̧Àæ« ̧ÀÄaÀ MPÀÆÌlzÀ ̧ÉÆÃAQ£À ̧ÀÆwæPÀgÀtUÀ1⁄4À C©üaÀÈ¢Þ ¥ÀæaÉÆÃzï PÀÄaÀiÁgï ̧ÁoÀÄ

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