Journal of Microbiology and Pathology

The Effect of Rhizobacteria on the Physical Properties of Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.Walp.)

Abstract

Ajayi Olaoluwa O*, Dianda Mahamadi, Fagade Obasola E and Nwadike Blessing

Seventeen isolates including nine rhizobial and eight Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) were obtained from root nodules of cowpea recovered from three local governments in Nassarawa State Nigeria. Rhizobial spp were co-innoculated with these Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and applied as treatments to experimental cowpea (Tvx 3236) plants. Treatments were replicated four times using block design. The height of the experimental plants were monitored every two weeks to observe if the co-inoculation of rhizobial spps with NRMs at two different applications of nutrient solution was able to enhance physical properties of the plant such as height, flowering and podding. It was observed that plant height, flowering and podding were enhanced by co-inoculation of Rhizobial spp. with a consortium of Agrobacterium spp., Pseudomonas sp. Paenibacillus sp. while a consortium of Azotobacter spp. improved flowering and podding but showed no ability to improve plant height. It is therefore shown that plant growth promoting rhizobacteria have positive effects on the maturation of plant with respect to flowering and podding of legumes and also on their height.