Differential modulation of phytoelemental composition by selected Pseudomonas spp.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are bioresources with potential application in ecofriendly agricultural practices. The beneficial effects of PGPR have been attributed to their ability to produce phytohormone, organic acid, siderophore, and also due to nitrogen fixation among others. In the present study, previously isolated plant growth promoting rhizospheric Pseudomonas spp.  were evaluated for growth enhancement effect in Vigna unguiculata seedlings. Elemental profiling of treated plant was further carried out by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Results of the study showed significant increase in growth parameters such as shoot length, root length and root numbers for treated plants when compared to control. Most of the macro and micro elements were also found to get modulated by interaction with applied Pseudomonas spp. However, a differential modulation was observed for plants when treated with each of the Pseudomonas spp., which could be due to their variable interaction with the selected plant. The results of the study indicate the role of each of the associated microbial partner to specifically influence the plant nutrient mobilization along the soil plant axis. The cumulative effect of the plant microbiome hence may decide the global nutritional status of plants as per the available environmental conditions.