Isolation and Evaluation of Bacteria Exhibiting Multiple Plant Growth Traits in the Rhizosphere of Yellow Bell Pepper (Capsicum chinense)

Abstract

Aim: The study identified and evaluated bacteria exhibiting multiple plant growth traits in the Rhizosphere of Yellow Bell Pepper (Capsicum chinense).                                                              Study Design: Seeds of Capsicum chinense were planted in a soil and allowed to grow. After five eeks of planting, soil samples from the rhizosphere were collected and the bacterial community present in the rhizosphere soil of Capsicum chinense was studied. The isolated organisms were assessed for their ability to produce plant growth promoting traits. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at an agricultural research farmland in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Methodology: Seeds of Capiscum chinense were planted in the soil samples in a greenhouse. Rhizosphere soil was collected for analysis to identify the bacterial composition of the rhizosphere soil.                                                                                                                                               Results: In this study the presence of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium sp, Enterococcus feacalis and Bacillus polymyxa were evident in the rhizosphere samples collected. All isolates showed multiple plant growth promoting traits except Staphylococcus aureushich was positive for hydrogen cyanide production only. Conclusion: The results from this study showed that the bacterial community present in the soil can be used to effect significant vegetative crop yield and agricultural production. The isolated rhizobacteria can be formulated as bio-fertilizers or bioinnoculants, etc.