Genetic and functional diversity among root-associated psychrotrophic Pseudomonad’s isolated from the Himalayan plants

Abstract

Out of 534 psychrotrophic bacteria, 12 bacteria were selected on the basis of plant growth promoting activities at 4°C and identified as Pseudomonas genus. These strains showed high level of genetic polymorphisms based on RAPD and rep-PCR fingerprinting. This genetic variability revealed that isolates belonging to same species were as high as the variability among different species. Further inoculation of these Pseudomonas strains significantly improves root/shoot biomass and nutrients uptake of lentil plant as compared to non-bacterized control after 40 days of seed showing. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis of pot assay results revealed that genetically diverse strains showing the same prototype in functional parameter and representing diverse blueprint of plant growth promoting attributes. Results of present findings explain the huge beneficial microbial resources from root zone of hilly crops of Himalayan region that could be effectively exploited as bio-inoculums for cold climatic condition.