Evaluation of plant growth promoting attributes and lytic enzyme production by fluorescent Pseudomonas diversity associated with Apple and Pear

Replant problem is very serious problem which suppress growth and yield of apple and pear in all major fruit growing areas of the world. Fluorescent Pseudomonas has potential to synthesize different secondary metabolites with diverse PGPR activities which enhance soil fertility and promote plant growth. Under the present study twenty six Pseudomonas strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of apple and pear plants of their normal and replant sites and found that the Pseudomonas count was more in normal site as compare to replant site. They were further screened for the production of various PGPR activities and proteolytic enzymes production viz. protease, chitinase and glucanase. AN-1-UHF, AN-5-UHF, PN7-UHF and PN-13-UHF were selected on the basis of their higher PGPR attributes and proteolytic activities. These strains were further found to be very efficient in antimicrobial activities.