The effect of PGPR inoculation on lentil growth under hydroaeroponic conditions

In Algeria, legumes are an important component of the diet because of their high protein content. They have long been considered as the most cultivated seed plants with cereals. In Algeria lentil (Lens culinaris) is classified as the third legume crop after bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and pea (Pisum sativum). The inoculation of lentils with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) has gained significant attention in agricultural research due to its potential in enhancing plant growth and improving crop productivity. 14 PGPR isolated from the region of Constantine, Algeria were investigated for their ability to promote the cultivation of this legume under hydroponic conditions. The isolated strains had a stimulatory effect on growth. In hydroaerponic conditions, application of PGPR significantly increased shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight by 178 %, 169 %, 350 %, and 311 % as compared with the uninoculated control. PGPR also show an excellent accumulation of phosphorus in the root part compared to the aerial part, specifically for bacteria 29. These indicated that the isolated PGPR strains can be utilized as potential biofertilizers for stimulating growth of lentil