Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Photosynthetic Pigments of Astragalus caragana under Drought Stress

Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting plant growth all around the world. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can significantly reduce drought stress effects on plants growth. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of PGPR (inoculation by Azospirillum lipoferum, Azotobacter chroococcum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus) on seed germination, seedling growth and photosynthetic pigments of Astragalus caragana under four levels of drought stress (0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.8 MPa) in laboratory conditions in Shahrekord University, Iran, 2017. Among the four PGPR treatments, A. chroococcum was eliminated because seeds failed to germinate and were identified as agent pathogenies. The results showed that inoculation by PGPR had a significant effect on all germination traits except shoot length. The effect of drought stress was significant on all traits expect mean germination time. The PGPR by drought stress interaction effect was significant on shoot length, embryonic leaf and seedling fresh weight, embryonic leaf and seedling dry weight, and root length. The highest and lowest seed germination indices and seedling length were related to first (control and -0.2 MPa) and second (-0.4, -0.8 MPa) levels of drought stress, respectively. It was concluded that P. aeruginosa was more effective in embryonic leaf fresh weight (0 and -0.2 MPa), embryonic leaf and seedling dry weight (total levels of drought stress); B. cereus (0 MPa) and A. lipoferum (0, -0.2, and -0.4 MPa) showed relatively better performance on root length and B. cereus (0 MPa), A. lipoferum (total levels of drought stress) and P. aeruginosa(-0.2 and -0.4 MPa; total levels of drought stress, respectively) improved growth of shoot and seedling fresh weight of the Astragalus caragana.