Impact of Bacterial Endo-symbionts on the Photosynthetic Pigments of Mulberry Plant (Morus indica L.)
Bhuvaneshwari T *
Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tamilnadu, India.
Anusuya G
Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tamilnadu, India.
Durgadevi R
Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tamilnadu, India.
Menaka S
Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tamilnadu, India.
M Tilak
Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tamilnadu, India.
Kalpana R
Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tamilnadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mulberry (Morusalba) is the sole food crop to silkworm (Bombyx mori). The growth and development of mulberry plant indirectly influences the growth and development of silkworms. Considering this factor, the research study is carried out to isolate and identify the growth promoting bacterial endophytes present in the plant parts (i.e., stem, leaves and roots) of mulberry. In addition to that, the isolated and identified promising isolates were applied under nursery, to study their impact in plants under nursery conditions. Among 30 isolates isolated, 4 isolates attained as promising isolates through preliminary biochemical tests and growth promotion tests and they were applied to mulberry cuttings in 15 different combinations to test their influence on photosynthetic pigments. The photosynthetic pigments include Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, Chlorophyll a/b ratio, Total chlorophyll and carotenoids were quantified.
Keywords: Mulberry, bacterial endophytes, nursery stage, photosynthetic pigments