Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)

            PGPR is a non-pathogenic soil-borne microorganism which can help to promote plant growth. It is defined as soil bacteria that colonize the roots of plants, and then inoculate onto the seed and that will help to promote plant growth. Farmers realize that when the soil is mixed with legume cost, it can help to improve the rate of growth and yield of non-legume crops from their experience (Bashan, 1998). First bacteria that used were Rhizobium sp. and register for plant inoculation. This patent was known as Nitragin. It has been used in agriculture past hundred years. Now, it was very common and has been practiced a lot in agriculture field.

Meanwhile, PGPR is bringing a lot of advantages in agriculture field. There are many reports which showed that PGPR can help to produce phytohormones, atmospheric nitrogen, and increase availability of certain plant essential elements in soil. In addition, PGPR can help to suppress the plant pathogen. For example, Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K84 is used to suppress crown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and has been produced commercially (Lopez et al, 1990).

References: 

Bashan, Y. 1998. Inoculants of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria for Use in Agriculture. Biotechnology Advance. 16(4): 729-770.
Lopez, M.M., Salcedo, C.I., Marti, R. & Vicedo, B. 1990. Inhibitory Effect of Agrobacterium radiobacter Strains K84 and K1026 Against Plant Pathogenic Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizocbacteria Progress and Prospects. 77-80.

           Copy from:

Ooi, Y.S. 2014. Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Its Effect on Quality of Turfgrass, Degree Thesis, University Putra Malaysia.

It is considering one of the bio-fertilizer but its effect is slower than chemical fertilizer. PGPR that used in farm will be uploaded later on~~ =)

  
Angelia