Effect of plant growth promoting Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens on growth and pigment composition of radish plants (Raphanus sativus) under NaCl stress

Soil salinity is one of the most severe factors limiting growth and physiological response in Raphanus sativus. In this study, the possible role of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in alleviating soil salinity stress during plant growth under greenhouse conditions was investigated. Increasing salinity in the soil decreased plant growth, photosynthetic pigments content, phytohormones contents (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA and gibberellic acid, GA 3) and mineral uptake compared to soil without salinity. Seeds inoculated with Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens caused significantly increase in fresh and dry masses of roots and leaves, photosynthetic pigments, proline, total free amino acids and crude protein contents compared to noninoculated ones under salinity. The bacteria also increased phytohormones contents (IAA and GA 3) and the contents of N, P, K +, Ca 2+, and Mg 2+ but decreased ABA contents and Na + and Cl - content which may contribute in part to activation of processes involved in the alleviation of the effect of salt. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.