The effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria on growth and nutritional status of oak seedlings

The decline of area of oak forest shows the necessity of reclamation of disturbed oak habitats. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria on survival,, growth and nutritional status in Quercus brantii Lindl. and Q. libanii Oliv. The collected seeds were sowed after inoculation by phosphate solubilizing bacteria in greenhouse. The experiment was conducted in a factorial based on randomized complete block design with two main factor including oak species and bacteria with three replication and sixteen seeds for each replication. The significant effect of oak species caused higher value of height growth, collar diameter, leaves dry matter percentage, amount of phosphorous in root and shoot and also magnesium, iron and manganese in root, shoot and leaves of Q.libanii seedlings. However, Q. brantii seedlings had more shoot dry matter and iron amount in root and shoots. The significant effect of bacteria and mean comparison indicated higher value of height growth, collar diameter, and root, shoot and leaves dry matter in seedlings which inoculated by Pseudomonas and Bacillus isolates. Mean comparison showed the more value of phosphorous in root, shoot and leaves , and iron of root and shoot in seedlings which inoculated by Pseudomonas isolates. Inoculation by Bacillus isolated increased iron amount in root, shoot and leaves, too. The Pseudomonas and Bacillus had better efficiency in improving growth and nutritional status of oak seedling, making them suitable candidates in rehabilitation of degraded oak habitats.