Enterobacter hormaechei as Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria for Improvement in Lycopersicum esculentum

Humans have been using natural resources for their daily life support. The population boom around the world has created a need to develop a new technique for increased crop production. Chemical fertilizers used in modern agriculture lead to pollution, besides increase in farming costs. To solve this problem, the present study deals with a natural halotolerant Enterobacter hormaechei which can fix N and solubilize desired macronutrients P and K. Enterobacter hormaechei was able to solubilize K-feldspar into potassium (97.5 ± 1.76 mg/L), tri-calcium phosphate into phosphate (99.7 ± 02 µg/mL) and it also produced IAA (47.87 ± 0.85 mg/L). Experiments, including morphological and chemical analysis, have provided a new growth pattern in Lycopersicum esculentum. Tomato seeds (Lycopersicum esculentum) treated with Enterobacter hormaechei enhanced biomass and an increase in shoot length when compared to control. It enhanced not only plant growth but modified the root architecture leading to improved crop productivity.