Iron acquisition in maize (Zea mays L.) using Pseudomonas siderophore

Siderophore facilitates iron availability in soil, but its assistance in iron transportation to different plant parts is not reported till date. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study the effect of siderophore produced by Pseudomonas for iron acquisition in the presence and absence of iron. To study these effects, two siderophore-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains RSP5 and RSP8 were selected. RSP5 and RSP8 produced the highest and lowest amounts of siderophore, respectively. Iron (Fe) concentration of stem, leaf, seed, and shoot length, root length, cob length, and number of grains parameters were analysed. It was observed that the plants treated with RSP5 were sturdier and taller than RSP5 + Fe > RSP8 > RSP8 + Fe > Fe > Control plants. Iron content of RSP8 vs. RSP8 + Fe, RSP8 + Fe vs. Control, and RSP8 + Fe vs. RSP5 + Fe was significantly different (P < 0.01). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) proves that RSP5 was able to transport higher amount of iron to maize plant than other treatments. Increase in shoot length, root length, cob length, grain number and iron content of stem, and leaf and seed of maize plant inoculated with RSP5 suggests that the strain can be used as an inoculant for increasing iron transportation in maize plant. (Indian Patent Filed: 40163/DEL/2016).