Increasing the growth of your plant; naturally

The earth, the soil is a fertile land and a rich source of various types of naturally occurring fungi, bacteria, protozoa and viruses. The narrowest region of the soil known as the rhizosphere is greatly affected and influenced by root secretions and microbial activity.

There are various Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria that occupy the very same rhizosphere. These growth promoting bacteria have beneficial effects on the growth of the plant. The breeder goes about inducing the bacteria in either a direct or indirect manner. A direct method means to increase the growth of the plant by injecting the plant with various nutrients and hormones. The indirect method includes reduction of vulnerable to diseases and beginning a form of defense also known as induced systematic resistance.

The benefits of Plant promotion are many. Here are a few listed below:

• Nutirents in more supply: The Rhizobacteria can substantially increase the growth of the plant in the absence of pathogenic microorganisms. One way in which they can enhance plant growth is by solubilizing normally poorly soluble nutrients with either bacteria siderophores or lowering the pH by secreting acidic organic compounds.

•  Phytohormones: Plant growth can be controlled by the production of hormones and other compounds related to plant development. Auxin, a plant hormone is important for the promotion of lateral root formation.

• Ethylene levels: a low level of ethylene is a sure shot way to promote plant growth. But high ethylene levels may inhibit root elongation. In plants, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) and 5’-deoxy-5’methylthioadenosine (MTA) is converted to ACC by ACC synthase [9]. A number of plant growth-promoting bacteria have been found to contain the enzyme ACC deaminase, which cleaves and sequesters the plant ethylene precursor ACC and thus lowers the level of ethylene in a developing or stressed plant [1]. The presence of plant growth-promoting bacteria thereby moderates concentration of ACC so that it does not reach a level where it begins to impair root growth.

These are just few of the various methods through which plant promotion can be done. PGPB is today an important method in the production of plants. While there may not be many takers for PGPB, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria in agriculture and solving environmental problems seems promising, there is not enough knowledge about these bacteria for them to be put into use. However, there’s nothing to lose when it comes to the growth of your plants.