Study of quantitative and qualitative yield, chlorophyll content and some growth indices of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in response to seed inoculation with PGPR at different levels of soil salinity

In order to study of quantitative and qualitative yield، chlorophyll content and some growth indices of wheart (Triticum aestivum L.) in response to seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) at different levels of soil salinity، a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at Research Greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture، University of Mohaghegh Ardabili، Ardabil، in 2011. Experimental factors were soil salinity at four levels (0، 15، 30 and 60 Mm as Nacl) and seed inoculation with PGPR in four levels (no inoculation as control، seed inoculation with Azotobacter chrocoocum strain 5، Azospirillum lipoferum strain OF، Pseudomonas putida strain 186). Comparison of means showed that in soil salinity conditions، grain yield per plant، number of grain per spike، grain 100 weight، spike length and root weight increased due to seed inoculation with PGPR compared to without seed inoculation. Investigation of total dry matter accumulation indicated that in all treatment combinations، it increased rapidly until 85 days after sowing. From 85 days after sowing till harvest time، it decreased due to increasing of competition، shedding and aging of leaves. In all treatment combinations، the highest grain yield and total dry matter accumulation per unit area was obtained in treatment combination of seed inoculation with Azosperilium × no soil salinity and the lowest amount was in the highest level of soil salinity × no seed inoculation. Similar trend was obtained in crop growth rate and relative growth rate. Hence، the results of this study showed that in order to increase the quantitative and qualitative yield، chlorophyll content and some other growth indices such as total biomass، crop growth rate and relative growth rate of wheat in soil salinity conditions، it could be suggested that wheat seed inoculation with Azospirillum be applied