You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
Okra, (Abelmoschus esculentus) a commercial vegetable crop which belongs to family Malvaceae plays an important role in the human diet and is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, calcium, potassium, enzymes, and total minerals which are often lacking in the diet of developing countries. Rhizospheric bacteria promote plant growth directly by delivering substances synthesized by them or assisting the absorption of soil nutrients to the plant, by phytohormone formation, dissolution of minerals and reducing ethylene levels in plants. The aim of this research was to isolate and determine the functional characteristics of rhizobacteria. Bacteria were isolated from the rhizospheric soil of okra plants obtained from Uteh farm in Benin City by pour plate technique. The results obtained showed colony counts of bacteria ranged from 9.50×104 cfu/ml to 1.74×105 cfu/ml. Four identified isolates including Pseudomonas fluorescence, Nitobacter vulgaris, Bacillus megatherum and Bacillus circulans were screened for their plant growth promoting traits like production of indole acetic acid, ammonia and, hydrogen cyanide. Nitrobacter vulgaris and Bacillus circulans produced indole acetic acid, ammonia was produced by Nitobacter vulgaris and the production of hydrogen cyanide was detected in Nitobacter vulgaris and Bacillus circulans. Therefore based on these observations, it can be said that Pseudomonas fluoresence, Nitobacter vulgaris, and Bacillus circulans possess plant growth promoting traits. Futher investigations into these rhizobacteria and okra plants could provide insights into sustainable agricultural practices and enhance crop productivity.
