Role of nitrogen fixing bacteria on the phyllosphere of wheat seedlings

Two diazotrophic bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum (REN2) and Corynebacterium sp. (Pot N2) isolated from rice and potato phyllosphere, respectively, were tested on wheat seedlings in vitro, for their efficiencies to increase dry weight and total nitrogen content of the plant, to establish their utility as potential biofertilizers. An average increase in dry weight nearly by 35-50% and total nitrogen content by 56-52% was obtained which was near to that available by nitrogenous chemical treatment. A comparatively better result was obtained by REN2 than Pot N2.