Effects of Rhizobium Inoculation on in vitro Germination and in vivo Nodulation and Early Plant Growth in Black gram and Green gram

Experiments were conducted on black gram and green gram to evaluate the effects of rhizobium inoculation on some germination parameters and early plant growth. In vitro germination data showed that inoculation with rhizobium accelerated the germination velocity during first five days and caused subsequent improvement in root and shoot length and biomass. Rhizobium inoculation drastically enhanced the mobilization efficiency which resulted in vigourous seedlings. In vivo studies on nodulation and plant growth showed nodulation in untreated and inoculated seed-derived plants both; however, the later had significantly high values for plant height and biomass, and nodule number and biomass in both the crops. Physiological improvement of germination and early plant growth due to rhizobia inoculation points towards their role not only as nitrogen fixer but also as growth promoting rhizosphere bacteria.