effect of seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) on germination components and seedling growth of corn (zea mays l.)

in order to investigate the effects of seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) on germination components and seedling growth of corn (zea mays l.), a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the seed technology laboratory of mohaghegh ardabili university, iran, during 2008. studied factors were: corn cultivars in four levels (sc-434, kenez, dc-370 and sc-301) and seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in three levels (no inoculation, seed inoculation with azetobacter chorchorum strain 5, azosprilium lipoferum strain of). the results showed that seed inoculation with pgpr had significant effect on growth seedling, uniformity of germination, radicle and plumule dry weight, germination percentage of corn. cultivars had different response to germination indices and seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. seed inoculation with pgpr increased germination indices. seed inoculation with azosprilium lipoferum strain of increased proportion of radicle to plumule, longer radicle and plumule compared with inoculation with azetobacter chorchorum strain 5 and no inoculation. thus, in order to increasing of germination indices and seedling growth, it can be suggested that seeds inoculation of sc-434 was applied with azosprilium lipoferum strain of.