Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Microbiology

The objective of this work was to support growth and yield of faba bean and wheat grown under salt-affected conditions using inocula bacterial endophytes along with a Rhizobium leguminosarum strain. The examined endophytic bacterial strains isolated and characterized in a previous work were conclusively identified using 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis as Pantoea agglomerans, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Klebsiella sp., Brevundimonas diminuta and Bacillus cereus. These strains showed ability in vitro to produce plant growth promoting substances as ammonia (NH3), produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN), as well as the ability to fix nitrogen, dissolve phosphate, Poly-Ý-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) in addition their intrinsic antibiotic resistance. Plant growth promoting ability of these bacteria was evaluated in a field experiment. Growth and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and faba bean (Vicia faba) were improved under high saline soil stress at Sahl El-Hossinia region, El- Sharkia governorate, Egypt due to inoculation with the endophytes. 100 seed and1000 grain weights, protein concentration and yield were increased when inoculated with P. agglomernas and Klebsiella sp. weighing 96 g.100grains⁻¹, maximum grain protein of 16.9% was recorded with the single strain Klebsiella sp. inoculum and the highest total yield of 1580 kg.feddan⁻¹ in faba bean while that maximum grain weight reaching up to 45 g.1000 grains-1 in wheat inoculated with Klebsiella sp. and Brev. diminuta. The highest seed protein accumulation was obtained as a result of inoculation with P. agglomernas and Ps. stutzeri (9.9 %) and total yield increased up to 1549 kg.fed⁻¹ when rhizobial strain combined with Ps. Stutzeri, respectively in wheat. Results referred to a possible role of the isolated endophytes as inocula strains for improving wheat and faba bean growth and productivity under salinity stress

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