Research Article

Growth, Allometry and Dry Matter Yield of Soybean Genotypes in Response to Seed Inoculation with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria

Ali Zohaib1*, Saima Yousaf1,2, Shakeel Ahmad Anjum1, Tahira Tabassum1, Tasawer Abbas3, Wardah Muzaffar1 and Wasiq Ikram2

1Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 45650, Pakistan; 3Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan.

Received | August 21, 2018; Accepted | August 28, 2018; Published | January 15, 2019

*Correspondence | Ali Zohaib, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; Email: alizohaib208@gmail.com

Citation | Zohaib, A., S. Yousaf, S.A. Anjum, T. Tabassum, T. Abbas, W. Muzaffar and W. Ikram. 2019. Growth, allometry and dry matter yield of soybean genotypes in response to seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 32(1): 102-109.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjar/2019/32.1.102.109

Keywords | Glycine max L., Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Growth and development, Dry matter production

Introduction

Soybean is an important oil seed crop of world having 19% cholesterol free oil and 42% good quality protein (Wilcox and Shibles, 2001). It also has superior amino acid profile compared to other sources of plant protein and is an important source of biodiesel fuel (Graham and Vance, 2003). However, more often plant nutrition affects the seed production and quality, and protein and oil productivity as well (Zohaib et al., 2018a, b). Being a leguminous crop, soybean has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The roots of soybean are occupied by Rhizobium bacteria, which form nodules and fix atmospheric nitrogen (Abbasi et al., 2013). Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient required for all plants’ growth and development (Frink et al., 1999). It has been established that nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) present in soil are not enough and thus their efficacy in biological nitrogen fixation is decreased. Therefore, to enhance the Rhizobium population in root zone, seed inoculation of soybean with a suitable Rhizobium strain is necessary. Thakur and Panwar (1995) reported an increase in plant height, leaf area and dry matter accumulation by seed inoculation of mungbean with Rhizobium. Similarly, an increase in plant height and biological yield of soybean (Malik et al., 2006) and chickpea (Togay et al., 2008) was observed by seed inoculation with Rhizobium.

Phosphorus is an important macronutrient, required in relatively large amount for plant growth and development, productivity and nodulation of legumes (Pacovsky et al., 1986; Murtaza et al., 2014). However, the efficacy of phosphatic fertilizers is reduced due to phosphorus fixation in soil which causes a reduction in phosphorus availability and lessens the efficacy of phosphatic fertilizers (Jodie and Peter, 2000). Some bacterial species are known to solubilize the insoluble phosphorus in soil. These phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) also release some plant growth promoting hormones, enhance nitrogen fixation (Richardson, 2001) and promote plant growth. Inoculation with a proper strain of PSB improves the availability of phosphorus and enhances growth and productivity of crops (Ponmurugan and Gopi, 2006). Rudresh et al. (2004) reported an increase in plant height, nodulation, number of branches per plant, nutrient uptake and total biomass of chickpea by inoculation with PSB. The chlorophyll content of soybean was increased by seed inoculation with NFB and PSB (Zarei et al., 2011).

A differential behavior exists among different genotypes of same species regarding growth and productivity (Ali et al., 2004). Ngalamu et al. (2013) reported a significant difference among different genotypes of soybean pertaining to plant height, number of branches, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 1000-grain weight and seed yield. Therefore, to get better crop productivity and enhanced economic returns selection of genotypes which respond well to the applied inputs pertaining to growth, dry matter production and crop productivity is a pre-requisite (Kamal et al., 2015, 2016; Argaw and Muleta, 2018). It has been observed that the efficacy of bacterial strains for nodulation and N fixation differs with bacterial strain and host genotype which affects the growth and yield of crops (Aguilar et al. 1998; Farid and Navabi, 2015). Moreover, different rhizobial strains differ in their ability to survive and fix N with different genotypes and soil environments (Argaw and Muleta, 2018). Similarly, PSB also differ in their performance depending upon the host genotype (Tagore et al., 2013). Thus it is necessary to determine the suitability of different growth promoting bacteria in interaction with genotypes.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve the growth and productivity of crop plants. However, the knowledge regarding comparative effectiveness of different PGPRs in improving the performance of different genotypes of soybean is lacking. The present study was conducted with the objectives to determine the effect of seed inoculation with NFB (Rhizobium japonicum) or PSB (Pseudomonas fluorescens) on growth, allometric traits and dry matter yield of soybean genotypes.

Materials and Methods

A field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of seed inoculation with PGPRs on growth, allometric traits and dry matter yield of different genotypes of soybean at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during February-June, 2013. Seed inoculation treatments i.e. control (no treatment), NFB (Rhizobium japonicum) and PSB (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and different genotypes i.e. EBR4V4, Freedom and Swat-84 were included in the experiment. The experiment was carried out on sandy-silt soil having 8.2 pH, 0.92% organic matter, 0.41% total nitrogen, 5.25 ppm available phosphorus and 130 ppm available potassium. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications and net plot size of 5.0 m × 2.4 m. Sowing was done using hand drill maintaining 30 cm inter row spacing and 10 cm intra row plant spacing with seed rate of 100 kg ha-1. Fertilizer was applied at the rate of 25 kg N, 50 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O ha-1 at the time of sowing using urea (46% N), diammonium phosphate (18% N; 46% P2O5) and sulfate of potash (50% K2O) as sources. In all six irrigations were applied during the whole period of experiment. Inter row plant spacing of 10 cm was maintained by thinning of crop done 30 days after crop emergence. Weeds were kept below economic threshold level by three manual hoeing. Crop was harvested manually. The weather data prevailing during the study period is presented in Table 1.

Data regarding plant height, total chlorophyll content, leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR) and dry matter yield were recorded. Ten plants from each plot were selected at random to record the plant height at maturity. All the harvested plants were tied in bundles and placed in field for sun drying. The tied bundles of each plot were weighed for recording dry matter yield and converted into kg ha-1. The LAI, LAD and CGR were recorded at different growth stages of crop viz. 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing (DAS) of crop. Three plants were harvested each time from each replication and leaves were detached from the plants. Leaf area of detached leaves was determined by using the leaf area meter and LAI was calculated using the following formula given by Watson (1947);

 

Leaf area duration for entire growing season was estimated by using the formula given by Hunt (1978);

where LAI1 and LAI2 are leaf area indices recorded at times t1 and t2, respectively.

The plants harvested for determination of leaf area were dried under sun and then in drying oven at 70±5°C. The dried plants were weighed to determine the dry weight per plant and used to estimate CGR as proposed by Hunt (1978):

 

Where; W1 and W2 are dry weights at first and second harvests taken at times t1 and t2, respectively.

Total chlorophyll content was measured by using the method of Arnon (1949). Fresh leaves of 0.5 g weight were chopped into small segments and chlorophyll was extracted with 5 mL of 80% acetone. Material was centrifuged at 14000 x g for 5 minutes. The absorbance of supernatant was measured at 645 nm and 663 nm on spectrophotometer and the total chlorophyll content was calculated using following formula;

Where; A663 and A645 are absorbance of extract at 663 nm and 645 nm, respectively.

Fisher’s analysis of variance technique was used to analyze the collected data and treatment’s means were compared using Tukey’s honest significance difference (HSD) test at 5% probability level (Steel et al., 1997).

Table 1: Meteorological data prevailing during soybean growing seasons of field experiment.

Month	Total rainfall (mm)	Relative humidity (%)	Temperature (°C)			Sunshine (h)
			Monthly maximum	Monthly minimum	Daily mean
February	55	81	19	8	14	05
March	01	61	27	13	20	09
April	22	37	34	20	27	09
May	05	25	40	24	32	10
June	68	43	40	28	34	09

Source: Agro-meteorology Cell, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Results and Discussion

Plant height

There was a significant difference among different genotypes for plant height of soybean. Maximum plant height was produced by EBR4V4 (36.70 cm), which was statistically similar with Freedom (34.53 cm). However, seed inoculation, and interaction of genotypes and seed inoculation posed no significant effect on plant height of soybean (Table 2). The difference in plant height among different genotypes is attributed to differential genetic potential of different genotypes for plant growth and development. Similar results were observed by Ngalamu et al. (2013) who reported a significant difference in plant height of soybean among different genotypes. In present study, the seed inoculation surprisingly did not affect the plant height (Table 2). This might be due to enhanced utilization of improved nutrient status due to PGPRs for photosynthesizing plant parts as it is evident from improved chlorophyll content and LAI (Table 2) and synthesis of photo-assimilates which ultimately led to enhanced dry matter yield (Table 3). However, contrary to our present study previous studies showed a significant improvement in plant height by seed inoculation with PGPRs on chickpea (Tagore et al., 2013) and soybean (Lamptey et al., 2014).

Total chlorophyll content

The tested soybean genotypes exhibited a non-significant difference in total chlorophyll content. However, there was a significant difference in total chlorophyll

Table 2: Influence of seed inoculation on plant height, total chlorophyll content and leaf area index of different genotypes of soybean.

Treatments	Plant Height cm)	Total chlorophyll content (mg g-1 FW)	Leaf area index
			45 DAS	60 DAS	75 DAS	90 DAS
Genotypes
EBR4V4 (V1)	36.70 a	6.44	0.91	2.18	3.40	3.24 ab
Freedom (V2)	34.53 ab	6.26	0.89	2.17	3.44	3.22 b
Swat-84 (V3)	30.76 b	6.36	0.90	2.20	3.43	3.27 a
HSD at p ≤ 0.05	4.798	NS	NS	NS	NS	0.038
Inoculation
Control (I0)	33.44	5.87 b	0.88 b	2.08 c	3.19 c	3.08 c
Rhizobium japonicum (I1)	34.71	6.49 a	0.87 b	2.19 b	3.44 b	3.24 b
Pseudomonas fluorescens (I2)	33.84	6.71 a	0.95 a	2.28 a	3.64 a	3.42 a
HSD at p ≤ 0.05	NS	0.546	0.023	0.066	0.097	0.038
Interaction (V × I)
V1 × I0	36.98	5.96	0.89	2.07	3.14	3.05 d
V1 × I1	37.77	6.59	0.87	2.19	3.42	3.21 c
V1 × I2	35.35	6.78	0.96	2.27	3.65	3.46 a
V2 × I0	33.00	5.82	0.86	2.08	3.22	3.09 d
V2 × I1	33.83	6.30	0.89	2.15	3.48	3.23 c
V2 × I2	36.77	6.66	0.93	2.29	3.61	3.35 b
V3 × I0	30.35	5.81	0.87	2.10	3.22	3.09 d
V3 × I1	32.53	6.59	0.86	2.22	3.42	3.27 bc
V3 × I2	29.40	6.70	0.97	2.28	3.65	3.45 a
HSD at p ≤ 0.05	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS	0.026

Any two means in a column not sharing a letter in common differ significantly at p ≤ 0.05; NS: Non-significant; DAS: Days after sowing.

content of soybean by the influence of seed inoculation. Total chlorophyll content was improved by the influence of seed inoculation of soybean as compared to control. Maximum total leaf chlorophyll content was produced by the influence of P. fluorescens (6.71 mg g-1 fresh weight), which was statistically similar with R. japonicum (6.49 mg g-1 fresh weight). The interactive effect of genotypes and seed inoculation on total chlorophyll content of soybean was not significantly different (Table 2). The tested genotypes did not differ in total chlorophyll content by the influence of seed inoculation which might be due to similar response of all genotypes to enhanced nutrient availability in biosynthesizing photosynthetic pigments (Adjei-Nsiah et al., 2018). In present study, the increase in total chlorophyll content by seed inoculation with NFB or PSB may be attributed to increased biological nitrogen fixation which might have enhanced the N availability to plants. As the nitrogen is structural part of chlorophyll, the enhanced N might have increased the total chlorophyll content. Similar results were reported by Bejandi et al. (2012) who observed an increase in total chlorophyll content by seed inoculation of chick pea with Rhizobium. Patra et al. (2013) found that seed inoculation with PSB and Azotobacter enhanced the total chlorophyll content in sunflower.

Allometric traits

The tested genotypes of soybean did not differ significantly for LAI at 45, 60 and 75 DAS; however, differed significantly for LAI at 90 DAS. Maximum LAI was noted for Swat-84 (3.27), which was statistically similar with EBR4V4 (3.24) at 90 DAS. Influence of seed inoculation on LAI of soybean was significant at all the growth stages. Highest LAI was produced by seed inoculation of soybean with P. fluorescens (0.95, 2.28, 3.64 and 3.42 at 45, 60, 75 and 90 DAS, respectively). The interactive effect of genotypes and seed inoculation on LAI was non-significant at 45, 60 and 75 DAS; while, significant at 90 DAS. Maximum LAI was observed for EBR4V4 when inoculated with P. fluorescens (3.46) which was statistically similar with Swat-84 when inoculated with P. fluorescens (3.45)

Table 3: Influence of seed inoculation on leaf area duration, crop growth rate and dry matter yield of different genotypes of soybean.

Treatments	Leaf area duration (days)			Crop growth rate (g m-2 d-1)			Dry matter yield (kg ha-1)
	45-60 DAS	60-75 DAS	75-90 DAS	45-60 DAS	60-75 DAS	75-90 DAS
Genotypes
EBR4V4 (V1)	23.15	41.85	49.81	6.89	11.60	9.54	8242.6
Freedom (V2)	23.22	42.07	49.95	6.96	11.55	9.55	8341.6
Swat-84 (V3)	24.82	42.21	50.20	6.81	11.46	9.43	8299.2
HSD at p ≤ 0.05	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
Inoculation
Control (I0)	23.75	39.57 c	47.00 c	6.01 c	10.77 b	8.69 b	7777.9 b
Rhizobium japonicum (I1)	22.96	42.18 b	50.04 b	6.88 b	11.49 b	9.48 b	8059.6 b
Pseudomonas fluorescens (I2)	24.47	44.38 a	52.92 a	7.77 a	12.35 a	10.35 a	9045.9 a
HSD at p ≤ 0.05	NS	0.736	0.853	0.737	0.797	0.697	787.63
Interaction
V1 × I0	22.22	39.07	46.45	5.97	10.86	8.71	7746.9
V1 × I1	22.97	42.07	49.70	6.99	11.63	9.61	8024.2
V1 × I2	24.25	44.40	53.3	7.72	12.31	10.31	8956.8
V2 × I0	22.07	39.72	47.27	6.09	10.73	8.70	7377.6
V2 × I1	22.80	42.22	50.32	6.97	11.53	9.55	8156.1
V2 × I2	24.77	44.27	52.25	7.81	12.38	10.39	9491.0
V3 × I0	26.96	39.92	47.27	5.98	10.72	8.65	8209.1
V3 × I1	23.12	42.25	50.09	6.69	11.31	9.30	7998.4
V3 × I2	24.37	44.47	53.22	7.77	12.36	10.36	8690.0
HSD at p ≤ 0.05	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS

Any two means in a column not sharing a letter in common differ significantly at p ≤ 0.05; NS: Non-significant; DAS: Days after sowing.

at 90 DAS (Table 2). A non-significant difference among different genotypes of soybean was observed regarding LAD at all the growth stages. The effect of seed inoculation on LAD was non-significant at 45-60 DAS; however, significant at 60-75 and 75-90 DAS. The LAD was increased by seed inoculation and highest LAD was observed by seed inoculation with P. fluorescens (44.38 and 52.92 days at 60-75 and 75-90 DAS, respectively). The interactive effect of genotypes and seed inoculation on LAD of soybean was non-significant at all growth stages (Table 3). Crop growth rate of soybean did not differ significantly among different genotypes of soybean. Seed inoculation of soybean posed significant effect on CGR at all the growth stages. Highest CGR was found by the influence of seed inoculation with P. fluorescens (7.77, 12.35 and 10.35 at 45-60, 60-75 and 75-90 DAS, respectively). The interactive effect of genotypes and seed inoculation on CGR of soybean was non-significant at all growth stages (Table 3).

The genotypes did not differ regarding LAD (Table 3) which might be due to non-significant difference in LAI (Table 2). Similarly, CGR (Table 3) did not differ among genotypes and it is attributed to non-significant difference in chlorophyll synthesis (Table 2) and dry matter accumulation of soybean (Table 3). Initially the LAI was increased and then at latter growth stage viz. 75-90 DAS decreased. This is associated with enhanced leaf senescence at later growth stage with increased maturity. Increase in LAI by seed inoculation may be attributed to enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients availability to the soybean crop that resulted in increase in leaf area and ultimately LAI. Similar to our results Ali et al. (2004) reported that LAI of chick pea was increased by seed inoculation with Rhizobium than untreated control. In present study, increase in LAD (Table 3) due to seed inoculation is attributed to improved LAI of the crop (Table 2). Similar results were observed by Umale et al. (2002) who reported an increase in LAD by seed inoculation of soybean with P. fluorescens. Moreover, in present study, the CGR was increased at initial growth stages, however, decreased at later growth stages. However, plants which had seed inoculation treatment had greater CGR than untreated plants at each growth stage. The improved CGR by seed inoculation might be due to enhanced photosynthetic activity because of enhanced chlorophyll content and LAI (Table 2) which in turn might be the result of improved crop nutrition. Our results are supported by Sharifi (2012) who observed enhanced CGR by seed inoculation of safflower.

Dry matter yield

The genotypes of soybean did not differ significantly among each other in dry matter yield of soybean. However, the effect of seed inoculation on dry matter yield was significant. Highest dry matter yield was produced by the influence of seed inoculation of soybean with P. fluorescens (9045.9 kg ha-1). The interactive effect of genotypes and seed inoculation on dry matter accumulation was found non-significant (Table 3). The genotypes did not differ in dry matter yield across seed inoculation treatments which might be attributed to non-significant difference in total chlorophyll content (Table 2), LAI (Table 2), LAD (Table 3) and CGR (Table 3). In present study, increase in dry matter yield by seed inoculation may be due to enhanced photosynthetic rate because of increased availability of nitrogen and phosphorus. Our results are supported by Yadegari et al. (2008) who observed an increase in total dry matter yield in common bean by the influence of seed inoculation with P. fluorescens. Similarly, Farias et al. (2016) reported improved dry matter accumulation in cowpea by rhizobial seed inoculation.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Seed inoculation with PGPRs enhanced the growth and dry matter yield of soybean while P. fluorescens was most effective in this regard. It is concluded that seed inoculation with PGPRs is an effective approach in enhancing the growth and dry matter yield of soybean and may be used for the betterment of crop productivity.

Authors Contribution

Ali Zohaib performed SPSS data analysis, prepared the write up and did overall management of article. Saima Yousaf conceived the idea, conducted experiment and collected data. Shakeel Ahmad Anjum supervised the study and gave technical input at every step. Tahira Tabassum collected literature and reviewed the write up. Tasawer Abbas helped in discussion. Wardah Muzaffar helped in data collection while Wasiq Ikram contributed in conclusion.

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