Exploring Marine Microcella sp. For its Plant Growth-promoting Capacity on Pennisetum Glaucum (Pearl millet)

Diverse tactics are employed to increase agricultural productivity in order to meet the growing food needs resulting from population growth. Using plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) has proven to be a practical way to apply novel agricultural techniques. Although PGPR derived from rhizospheric soil has been extensively studied, more research on marine microorganisms is required. As marine environment is an extreme environment the marine bacteria is adapted to grow at extreme conditions which enables them to produce various secondary metabolites which can be useful in certain ways. The current study attempts to explore marine microorganisms' capacity to stimulate plant growth. The bacteria isolated form marine environment Microcella sp. strain 23 was found tolerating upto 13% of salinity. This bacterium is able to solubilize various essential minerals such as phosphate and potassium and able to produce ammonia and IAA (Indole-acetic acid), which makes it a possible plant growth promoter. The study was conducted on Pennisetum glaucum (Pearl Millet) crop and pot trials were performed with two groups, control (untreated) and treated with M23 (Microcella sp. coated seeds). Treated plants after 32 days of sowing showed increase in plant shoot length and root length by 48.33% and 29.88% respectively as compared to untreated plants. Microcella sp. M23 acts as plant growth promoter by solubilizing essential minerals, reflected in increased chlorophyll and carotenoid content along with stress markers by activating plants defense system that can protect plant from both biotic and abiotic stresses.