Effect of four probiotic strains of Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. on increase of growth factors and disease indicators in two pistachio cultivars in presence of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

The ability of four bacterial strains include Pseudomonas fluorescens VUPF5, VUPF52 and Bacillus cereus IPRI95, Bacillus subtilis IPRI96 on increase of growth parameters of two cultivars of pistachio in presence and absence of Meloidogyne incognita was evaluated. The experiment was a factorial design in a complete randomized design with the three factors including cultivar (Badami and Sarakhs), disease (presence and absence of nematode) and probiotic bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens strains VUPF5, VUPF52, Bacillus cereus strain IPRI95, Bacillus subtilis strain IPRI96 and water) in three replications. All of measured parameters showed considerable increases following treatment with bacterial strains in both cultivars. However, this increase in Sarakhs cultivar was higher than Badami cultivar. The maximum increase in treated pistachio seedlings was recorded for shoot height by 75.1, 12.1, root height by 50.63, 29.6, fresh shoot weight by 115, 34, fresh root weight by 63, 31, dry shoot weight by 34.41, 18.52 and for dry root weight by 1, 17.1 percent in Sarakhs and Badami cultivars respectively as compared with control. The number of galls and number of egg masses four month after inoculation was significantly decreased by 49.7 and 30.5%, for cv. Sarakhs and 64.4 and 71%, for cv. Badami respectively as compared with nontreated seedlings.