Scientia Horticulturae 241 (2018) 93–99

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Scientia Horticulturae
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scihorti

Seed bio-priming of baby corn emerged as a viable strategy for reducing T

mineral fertilizer use and increasing productivity
⁎
Ranjeet Singh Yadava, Vivek Singhb,c, Sumita Palb, Sunita Kumari Meenaa,d, ,
⁎ ⁎
Vijay Singh Meenaa,e, , Birinchi Kumar Sarmac, Harikesh Bahadur Singhc, Amitava Rakshita,
a
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
b
Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
c
Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
d
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110012, India
e
ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS), Almora 263601, Uttarakhand, India

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: The aims of this study were to boost growth, yield and yield attributes of baby corn and reducing fertilizer
Trichoderma viride application by different treatment combination of mineral fertilizers doses and various seed priming biological
Frateuria aurentia agents. Microbial intervention is widely accepted as one of the ways of reducing chemical fertilization. Here, we
Glomus intraradices evaluated the effects of seeds bio-priming with {Trichoderma viride (TV), Frateuria aurentia (FA) and Glomus
Bio-priming
intraradices (GI)} on cultivation of baby corn (Zea mays L.) in a pot experiment under net house condition. Our
results confirmed the significant positive effect of seed bio-priming (TV + GI) along with 75% recommended
dose (RDF) of NPK fertilizer on vegetative growth and yield attributes as compared to rest of the treatments.
Hence, the treatment combination of T. viride + G. intraradices along with 75% RDF may be used as more
effective combination for baby corn production. Thus, results concluded that use of efficient microbes will
reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizer to obtain potential baby corn productivity.

1. Introduction purpose due to pollution and other anthropogenic activities (Abhilash

Global food insecurity is a chronic issue that is likely to worsen with
climate change, rapid population growth and scarcity of arable land.
The alarming and projected increase in the world's populations will put
major demands on food security. The projected doubling in global food
demand over the next 50 years, poses a huge challenge to agricultural
sustainability. To fulfil the demand of food requirement was followed to
increase imbalanced application of agrochemicals for crop production
(Godfray et al., 2010; Abhilash et al., 2016). This rise in population
ultimately results in more global food demand of ∼ 70–100% by 2050
(Godfray et al., 2010). However, during ‘Green Revolution’ crops yield
greatly increased due to the massive inputs of new crop strains, water,
pesticides, fertilizer and other technologies (Tilman et al., 2002). Pre-
sently, annual world fertilizer application reaches ∼ 180 million tonnes
(Mt) (N + P2O5 + K2O), with the highest demand of N ∼ 110 Mt
(Watts et al., 2017). It was evaluated that approximately 40–60% food
productions in the world can be attributed to inorganic fertilization
(Stewart and Roberts, 2012). On the other hand, area of arable land is
limited and ∼ 33% of arable lands are unfavorable for agriculture
et al., 2016). Therefore, it is necessary to implement suitable agro-
biotechnological interventions for proper use of arable land to max-
imize food production without further deterioration of natural resource
(Abhilash et al., 2016; Meena et al., 2017b). With this concern, bio-
fertilizer plays a significant role in modern agricultural to reduce the
dependence on chemical fertilizer.
Biofertilizers application increase agricultural production, enhance
food nutritional quality and restore soil fertility that directly improves
agro-ecosystems (Abhilash et al., 2016; Bisen et al., 2016). Biofertilizers
are products that contain live cells of important microbes which en-
hance plant growth by synthesizing plant hormones or increasing nu-
trients uptake from soil system (Wu et al., 2005; Singh et al., 2014;
Keswani et al., 2016). The biofertilizers act in fixing atmospheric ni-
trogen (N), solubilization of phosphorus (P) and synthesis of side-
rophore form iron making nutrient easily available of the plant
(Adesemoye et al., 2009; Keswani et al., 2014; Meena et al., 2016). On
the other hand, chemical fertilizer has low use efficiency, as a very
small nutrient portion of it are taken up by the plant (Gyaneshwar et al.,
2002; Yadav et al., 2013; Rakshit et al., 2014). It was reported that P get

⁎
Corresponding authors at: Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar
Pradesh, India.
E-mail addresses: sumeena66@gmail.com (S.K. Meena), vijay.meena@icar.gov.in, vijayssac.bhu@gmail.com (V.S. Meena), amitavar@bhu.ac.in (A. Rakshit).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.06.096
Received 16 October 2017; Received in revised form 27 June 2018; Accepted 29 June 2018
Available online 03 July 2018
0304-4238/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
R.S. Yadav et al. Scientia Horticulturae 241 (2018) 93–99

precipitated after applying to soil cause less available to plants Table 1

(Gyaneshwar et al., 2002). Meanwhile, nitrate leaching result in loss of Treatments used in the experiments.
applied N cause contamination of ground water (Biswas et al., 2000). Treatments Fertilizer dose Microbe used in seed bio-priming
Plant beneficial rhizospheric microorganism (PBRM) enhance nu-
trient uptake by ∼ 20–40% with various nutrients (Meena et al., T1 Control N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg Absolute control without fertilization
ha−1 and microbes
2017b). The co-inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Arbuscular
T2 100% RDF N-P-K @ 120- Only recommended dose of chemical
Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) enhance P-uptake from rock phosphate 60-60 kg ha−1 fertilizers
(Najjar et al., 2012). Similarly, the co-inoculation of AMF and Thioba- T3 75% RDF Trichoderma viride (TV)
cillus spp. with recommended doses of NPK and sulphur fertilization T4 75% RDF Frateuria aurentia (FA)
enhances growth and yield attributes of maize and onion crop T5 75% RDF Glomus intraradices (GI)
T6 75% RDF Trichoderma viride + Frateuria aurentia
(Mohamed et al., 2014). Moreover, the microbial consortia of Funneli-
T7 75% RDF Trichoderma viride + Glomus
formis mosseae and Bacillus sonorensis reduce the application of re- intraradices
commended dose of NPK fertilizer to 50% for achieving potential T8 75% RDF Frateuria aurentia + Glomus intraradices
growth, biomass, nutrition and yield of chilli (Thilagar et al., 2016). T9 75% RDF Trichoderma viride + Frateuria aurentia
+ Glomus intraradices
Seed treatment is one of the economical methods which need the
small volume of inoculums (Singh et al., 2013a; Patel et al., 2015).
RDF: Recommended dose of fertilizer.
Further, seed bio-priming is considered as an advance and effective
method than seed treatment (Bisen et al., 2015; Singh et al., 2016a). In
autoclave blotting paper (Jain et al., 2012). The surface sterilized and
seed bio-priming, the PBRMs are applied on the seed surface which
dried seeds were divided into nine parts (50 seeds per treatment) and
further enhances nutrient availability in the rhizosphere (Singh et al.,
placed separately in sterilized petri dishes (Singh et al., 2016a). The
2016b; Meena et al., 2017b). During seed bio-priming the microbial
seeds were treated with the microbial suspension according to the
population on seed surfaces increases too many folds to initial inoculum
treatment and seeds treated with CMC only served as control. The extra
levels and become active before interacting with pathogens in sper-
suspension was drained off and the seeds were dried under sterile air
mosphere or spermoplane (Pill et al., 2009). The above reports clearly
stream (Singh et al., 2016b). Further, seeds are kept as a heap in the
provide the significant basis for exploring the effect of seed bio-priming
moist chamber at 28-30℃, maintaining 98% relative humidity for 24 h.
with Trichoderma viride, Frateuria aurentia and Glomus intraradices along
with NPK fertilizer on baby corn production.
2.4. Experimental setup

2. Material and methods

A pot experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2015 in net
house of Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,
2.1. Seed and microbial agents
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
campus, Varanasi (25°20′ N latitude and 83°01′ E longitudes). Bulk
The seeds of baby corn (Zea mays L.) variety G-5414 were obtained
surface soil was collected from the Agricultural Research Farm and
from the certified seed bank. However, commercial products of T. viride
sieved before use. The sieved soil (10 kg) was filled in each pot and
(CAD Tricho T. aviride) and G. intraradices (VAM) were obtain from
required fertilizer doses are applied according to the treatment in
Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited (Agro Division) district Ahmedabad,
Table 1. The fertilizers application were done in recommended dose N-
Gujarat, India and following the process of serial dilution plated on
P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1, ½ N, full P and K given at the time of sowing
potato dextrose agar (PDA) plate. T. viride culture was maintained on
and rest N given in 2 split dose at 25 and 45 DAS.
PDA slants and timely revived during the study (Singh et al., 2013b;
The bio-primed seed of baby corn sown according to the treatment
Saxena et al., 2015). The commercial product of F. aurentia (Multiplex
in Table 1 and crop was managed as per the recommended agronomic
Shakti biofertilizer) was obtained from the Karnataka Agro Chemicals,
practices. Cobs were harvested after 2–3 days after emergence of silk
Multiplex Bio-Tech Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore, India. The product of F. aurentia
length up to 1–2 cm. The experimental design was laid out in the
was serial diluted and plated on nutrient agar (NA). The F. aurentia
completely randomized block design with three replications (CRD) and
culture was maintained on NA slants and timely revived during the
three harvests with 20 days interval. First of all the total experimental
study (Jain et al., 2015a).
pots were divided into three blocks. Each block was divided into 3 units
containing 9 pots and each having 2 baby corn plants.
2.2. Preparation of microbial suspension
2.5. Soil analysis
The spore of T. viride harvested in sterilized saline (NaCl 0.85%)
from 7 day old culture grown on PDA medium and was adjusted to
The soil used in pot experiment was air dried ground and sieved
2 × 106 CFU mL−1. Similarly, F. aurentia cell was inoculated in NB and
through 2 mm sieve. The initial physico-chemical properties of the
grown on rotating shaker for 48 h at 28 ± 2℃. The microbial sus-
processed soil samples were determined by the standard procedure
pension was centrifuged at 10,000 RPM for 10 min and the supernatant
(Table 2). The soils used in the experiment were alluvial with neutral to
was discarded. The cell pellets were washed twice with sterilized saline
alkaline with pH 7.2, low in organic carbon (3.90 g kg−1), nitrogen,
and cell density of 108 CFU mL−1 mention (Jain et al., 2015b; Ray
et al., 2016). The T. viride spore suspension and F. aurentia cell sus-
Table 2
pension was separately centrifuge and pellet was re-suspended in the Initial physico-chemical properties of experimental soil.
same volume of sterilized 1.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) while
1 g of G. intraradices commercial formulation were used for each Soil properties Values Soil properties Values

treatment. pHw (1:2:5) 7.20 Water holding capacity (%) 39.90

ECw (1:2:5) 0.44 Bulk density (Mg m−3) 1.39
2.3. Seed bio-priming Organic C (g kg−1) 3.90 Particle density (Mg m−3) 2.56
Soil texture Sandy loam CEC (cmol (p+) kg−1) 28.98
Sand (%) 48.78 Available N (kg ha−1) 229
Seeds of baby corn were surface sterilized with sodium 1.5% hy-
Silt (%) 30.48 Available P (kg ha−1) 17
pochloride (NaOCl) solution for 5 min and washed thrice with sterile Clay (%) 20.44 Available K (kg ha−1) 230
distilled water. The sterilized was air dried under laminar air stream on

94
R.S. Yadav et al.
phosphorus and potassium in medium content (Table 2).
2.6. Plant parameters studied
2.6.1. Leaf area of the plant
Leaf area of the plants was measured by the use of Leaf Area Meter
(LI-3000C) in cm2 units at 20, 40 and 60 days after sowing (DAS).
2.6.2. Fresh and dry weights of plant
The weights of baby corn were estimated at 20, 40 and 60 DAS.
After harvesting plant samples were kept in paper bags and dried in hot
air oven at 60 ± 2 °C till the constant weight.
2.6.3. Root length
Roots were carefully separated from soil by washing and flooding
over sieves. After cleaning of any foreign material, roots were preserved
in 20% ethanol for measurement of root length by line interception
method of Tennant (1975), using the formula:
RL = (11/14) × N × G
Where, N is total numbers of intercepts of root with vertical and hor-
izontal grid lines; G is grid square dimensions, cm; RL is root length, cm.
2.6.4. Chlorophyll contents and yield
The chlorophyll contents were estimated at 20, 40 and 60 DAS of
baby corn crop by following procedure of Arnon (1949). The leaf
sample from sample plants were selected and 0.5 g weighed. The leaves
were macerated with 80% acetone in a pestle and morter and then it
was filtered by Whatman No. 1 filter paper and collected the super-
natant. The volume of supernatant raised up to 50 mL and absorbance
was recorded at 645 nm using a spectrophotometer and from the ab-
sorbance (A) values. Total chlorophyll content was determined as fol-
lows.
Total chlorophyll (mg g−1 fresh weight) = (20.2 × A 645) +
(8.02 × A 663) × V/W × 1/1000.
2.7. Statistical analysis
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for statistical dif-
ferences in leaf area, root length, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll
content and baby corn yield between different treatments. Data were
analysed using the SAS statistical software (version 9.3) and the stan-
dard error of treatment means was used for separation of means.
Comparison of means was carried out by Duncan’s multiple range tests
(Duncan, 1955) at p < 0.05. For principal component analysis (PCA)
and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) was used to display
the correlation between the various parameters and their relationship
with the different treatments.
3. Results
3.1. Effect of treatments on leaf area
Data generated from the different treatment combinations clearly
indicated that there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference among
treatments with respect to leaf area of baby corn (Fig. 1). Significantly
highest leaf area was recorded with 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-
60 kg ha−1) followed by rest of the treatments. However, lowest leaf
area was observed with control (T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1). The leaf
area was significantly higher by ∼ 70, 29, 11, 21, 64, 74, 37 and 55% at
20 DAS followed by ∼ 29, 3, 5, 13, 26, 38, 18 and 21% at 40 DAS
meanwhile ∼ 35, 9, 6, 29, 26, 43, 24 and 18% at 60 DAS with 100%
RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1), 75% RDF + T. viride (T3), 75%
RDF + F. aurentia (T4), 75% RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + T.
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Scientia Horticulturae 241 (2018) 93–99
aviride + F. aurentia (T6), 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7),
75% RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T8), and 75% RDF + T. viride
+ F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T9), respectively, compared to control
(T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1).
3.2. Effect of treatments on root length
Root length of baby corn at different growth stage was significantly
(p < 0.05) influenced by different microbes with recommended levels
of fertilizers (Fig. 2). Significantly highest (∼ 918 cm) root length was
recorded at 60 DAS followed by 40 DAS (∼ 528 cm) and 20 DAS (∼
350 cm). Among the treatment combination significantly (p < 0.05)
higher root length (∼ 416, 625 and 1100 cm with 20, 40 and 60 DAS,
respectively) was recoded with 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices
(T7) followed by rest of the treatments. It was rapidly increased in
between 40 and 60 DAS and after that growth of root length was
slightly slow in comparison with vegetative to reproductive stage of
baby corn (Fig. 2). Results confirmed that root length significantly
varied as ∼ 39, 10, 14, 32, 31, 47, 17 and 23% at 20 DAS followed by
∼ 31, 2, 4, 20, 24, 37, 8 and 17% at 40 DAS meanwhile, at 60 DAS it
was ∼ 27, 20, 7, 23, 13, 41, 16 and 17% with 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @
120-60-60 kg ha−1), 75% RDF + T. viride (T3), 75% RDF + F. aurentia
(T4), 75% RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + T. aviride + F.
aurentia (T6), 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7), 75% RDF + F.
aurentia + G. intraradices (T8), and 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia
+ G. intraradices (T9), respectively as compared to control (T1: N-P-K @
0-0-0 kg ha−1) treatment.
3.3. Effect of treatments on fresh weight
Results confirmed that application of 75% RDF + T. viride + G.
intraradices (T7) showed significantly superiority over the rest of the
combination. The fresh weights of baby corn at different growth stage
was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by different treatment combi-
nation (Fig. 3). Significantly highest fresh weight (110 g) was recoded
at 60 DAS followed by 40 DAS (∼ 58 g) and at 20 DAS (21 g) with 75%
RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7). The fresh weight of baby corn at
60 DAS was recorded significantly higher by ∼ 123, 101, 98, 103, 126,
130, 114 and 115 g followed by ∼ 68, 49, 58, 59, 65, 70, 60, and 61 g
at 40 DAS. However significantly lowest fresh weight was observed at
20 DAS as ∼ 23, 20, 17, 19, 25, 26, 21 and 22 g in 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K
@ 120-60-60 kg ha−1), 75% RDF + T. viride (T3), 75% RDF + F.
aurentia (T4), 75% RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + T. aviride +
F. aurentia (T6), 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7), 75% RDF +
F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T8), and 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia
+ G. intraradices (T9), respectively compared to T1 (Control, N-P-K @ 0-
0-0 kg ha−1). It was also observed that co-inoculation along with var-
ious doses of RDF significantly influenced fresh weight at 60 DAS of
baby corn plant as compared with 20 and 40 DAS (Fig. 3).
3.4. Effect of treatments on dry weight
Data pertaining to dry weight of baby corn presented in Fig. 4.
Application of 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7) showed its
superiority all over rest of treatments by ∼ 3, 7 and 13 g at 20, 40 and
60 DAS, respectively. Based on DMRT, it was significantly higher
(p < 0.05) as compared to rest of treatment combination (Fig. 4).
Results showed that dry weight was found to be higher by ∼ 47, 18, 7,
25, 62, 66, 34 and 37% at 20 DAS, in case of 40 DAS it was ∼ 87, 31,
59, 55, 81, 102, 61 and 71%, however it was ∼ 65, 38, 35, 44, 74, 78,
51 and 63% at 60 DAS in 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1),
75% RDF + T. viride (T3), 75% RDF + F. aurentia (T4), 75% RDF + G.
intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia (T6), 75% RDF +
T. viride + G. intraradices (T7), 75% RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices
(T8), and 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T9),
respectively as compared to T1 (Control, N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1).
R.S. Yadav et al.
3.5. Effect of treatments on chlorophyll content
Chlorophyll content of baby corn leaves significantly (p < 0.05)
affected by combination of recommended levels of fertilizer with seed
bio-priming by T. viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices (Fig. 5). Sig-
nificantly highest (∼ 41 mg g−1) chlorophyll was recorded with 60
DAS followed by 40 DAS (∼ 31 mg g−1) and 20 DAS (∼ 28 mg g−1).
Pot with 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7) treatment resulted
significantly higher chlorophyll content (∼ 39 mg g−1) followed by T6:
75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia (∼ 36 mg g−1) it was at par with
100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1), T3: 75% RDF + T. viride
(∼ 35 mg g−1). However, lowest was recorded with control (T1: N-P-K
@ 0-0-0 kg ha−1). Chlorophyll content was found to be higher by ∼ 21,
30, 15, 9, 33, 47, 11 and 13% at 20 DAS, while, at 40 DAS it was ∼ 19,
10, 2, 3, 14, 32, 7 and 9%. However, at 60 DAS it was found in fol-
lowing order ∼ 43, 42, 10, 34, 50, 46, 35 and 36% in 100% RDF (T2: N-
P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1), 75% RDF + T. viride (T3), 75% RDF + F.
96
Scientia Horticulturae 241 (2018) 93–99
Fig. 1. Effect of seed bio-priming with T. viride, F.
aurentia and G. intraradices along with 75 and 100%
RDF of NPK on leaf area at different growth stages of
baby corn. Data (mean ± SE) followed by similar
latter within a particulars DAS are not significant dif-
ferent at p < 0.05 level of significance according to
DMRT. Treatment details: T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1;
T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1; T3: 75% RDF + T.
viride; T4: 75% RDF + F. aurentia; T5: 75% RDF + G.
intraradices; T6: 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia;
T7: 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices; T8: 75%
RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices; T9: 75% RDF + T.
viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices.
Fig. 2. Effect of seed bio-priming with T. viride, F.
aurentia and G. intraradices along with 75 and 100%
RDF of NPK on root length at different growth stages of
baby corn. Data (mean ± SE) followed by similar
latter within a particulars DAS are not significant dif-
ferent at p < 0.05 level of significance according to
DMRT. Treatment details: T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1;
T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1; T3: 75% RDF + T.
viride; T4: 75% RDF + F. aurentia; T5: 75% RDF + G.
intraradices; T6: 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia;
T7: 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices; T8: 75%
RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices; T9: 75% RDF + T.
viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices.
aurentia (T4), 75% RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + T. aviride +
F. aurentia (T6), 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7), 75% RDF +
F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T8), and 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia
+ G. intraradices (T9), respectively compared to T1 (Control, N-P-K @ 0-
0-0 kg ha−1). These results confirmed that chlorophyll contents of baby
corn significantly influenced with various combination of treatment as
a RDF along with microbes (Fig. 5).
3.6. Effect of treatments on yield
Results showed that significantly increased in corn yield due to
different treatment combinations were confirmed (Fig. 6). It was ob-
served that co-inoculation of T. viride and G. intraradices along with
75% RDF (T7) confirmed significantly higher baby corn yield (∼ 25 g
plant−1) it was at par with 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia (T6) and
rest of treatments. It was increased significantly by ∼ 32% compared to
control treatment. Baby corn yield varied significantly between 17–25 g
Fig. 3. Effect of seed bio-priming with T. viride, F.
aurentia and G. intraradices along with 75 and 100%
RDF of NPK on fresh weight at different growth stages
of baby corn. Data (mean ± SE) followed by similar
latter within a particulars DAS are not significant dif-
ferent at p < 0.05 level of significance according to
DMRT. Treatment details: T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1;
T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1; T3: 75% RDF + T.
viride; T4: 75% RDF + F. aurentia; T5: 75% RDF + G.
intraradices; T6: 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia;
T7: 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices; T8: 75%
RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices; T9: 75% RDF + T.
viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices.
R.S. Yadav et al.
plant−1 with different treatment combinations (Fig. 6). The baby corn
yield was found to be higher by ∼ 19, 5, 4, 5, 31, 44, 7 and 13% in
100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1), 75% RDF + T. viride (T3),
75% RDF + F. aurentia (T4), 75% RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF
+ T. aviride + F. aurentia (T6), 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices
(T7), 75% RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T8), and 75% RDF + T.
viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T9), respectively compared to T1
(Control, N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1).
3.7. Principle component analysis
The PCA comprising two principal components (C1 and C2) ac-
counted for ∼ 86 and 5% with various treatment combinations (Fig. 7).
The PCA comprising C1 and C2 components accounted for ∼ 91%
variance in experiment, there was a strong positive correlation between
all components of the experiment viz. yield, leaf area, root length,
chlorophyll content, fresh and dry weights. In the cluster analysis, three
clusters were obtained. Cluster I comprises of 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @
120-60-60 kg ha−1), 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia (T6) and 75%
RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7) attributed to high mean values of
all the positive parameters. This cluster was followed by cluster II {75%
RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices
(T8) and 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices (T9)} and
cluster III {75% RDF + T. viride (T3) and 75% RDF + F. aurentia (T4)}.
Superimposition of microbes along with two level of fertilization on
baby corn results with 75% RDF + G. intraradices (T5), 75% RDF + F.
aurentia + G. intraradices (T8) and 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia +
G. intraradices (T9) showed significant correlation with these para-
meters (Fig. 7).
4. Discussion
Reduction in the dependence on chemical fertilizer in agriculture is
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Scientia Horticulturae 241 (2018) 93–99
Fig. 4. Effect of seed bio-priming with T. viride, F.
aurentia and G. intraradices along with 75 and 100%
RDF of NPK on dry weight at different growth stages of
baby corn. Data (mean ± SE) followed by similar
latter within a particulars DAS are not significant dif-
ferent at p < 0.05 level of significance according to
DMRT. Treatment details: T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1;
T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1; T3: 75% RDF + T.
viride; T4: 75% RDF + F. aurentia; T5: 75% RDF + G.
intraradices; T6: 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia;
T7: 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices; T8: 75%
RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices; T9: 75% RDF + T.
viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices.
need of the hour. On the other hand, increasing crop productivity is an
important criterion to fulfil the food demand of growing as well as next
generation. In this regard, application of important microbes such as
AMF, N-fixers, P-solubilizers and bio-control agents is an alternative
method to reduce chemical fertilizer in agriculture (Chauhan et al.,
2015; Thilagar et al., 2016). In the present study, the effect of T. viride,
F. aurentia and G. intraradice, as single and combination treatment along
with 75% RDF on plant growth and yield of baby corn were studied.
There was increased leaf area in microbial treatment as compared to
control and the effect was significantly higher with 75% RDF + T. viride
+ G. intraradices (T7) followed by 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-
60 kg ha−1) among the treatments at 20, 40 and 60 DAS. Results in-
dicated that combination of TV + GI was efficient over other treatment
with 75% RDF and full doses of RDF without any microbial treatment.
Similarly, Kadian et al. (2013) reported the significant increase in leaf
area in treatment with Funneliformis mosseae as compared to triple in-
oculation of F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride. On the other hand, leaf
area directly related to the photosynthetic potential of the plant
(Panwar, 1993).
The chlorophyll content significantly higher was recorded with 75%
RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7) at 20 and 40 DAS while, at 60
DAS it was recorded with 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia (T6) fol-
lowed by 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7). The experimental
result was in proximity with Colla et al. (2015) who reported higher
chlorophyll contents in lettuce, tomato, and zucchini in the dual com-
bination of T. viride MUCL 45,632 and G. intraradices BEG72 compared
to the single inoculation followed by uninoculated plants. Likewise,
Singh et al. (2016a) reported bio-priming of seed with T. asperellum
BHUT8 enhanced the chlorophyll content in tomato plant compared to
unprimed plant.
Root length is another important parameter that directly related to
plant growth. In the present study, higher root length was observed
with 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7) followed by 100% RDF
Fig. 5. Effect of seed bio-priming with T. viride, F.
aurentia and G. intraradices along with 75 and 100%
RDF of NPK on chlorophyll content in plant at dif-
ferent growth stages of baby corn. Data (mean ± SE)
followed by similar latter within a particulars DAS are
not significant different at p < 0.05 level of sig-
nificance according to DMRT. Treatment details: T1: N-
P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1; T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1;
T3: 75% RDF + T. viride; T4: 75% RDF + F. aurentia;
T5: 75% RDF + G. intraradices; T6: 75% RDF + T.
aviride + F. aurentia; T7: 75% RDF + T. viride + G.
intraradices; T8: 75% RDF + F. aurentia + G. in-
traradices; T9: 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia + G.
intraradices.
R.S. Yadav et al.
(T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1). Results clearly indicated that the bio-
primed with the TV + GI combination with 75% RDF was most effec-
tive in enhancing the root growth of baby corn plant (Rakshit et al.,
2015; Meena et al., 2017a). Similarly, the enhanced root length of to-
mato plant was observed with application G. mosseae and T. harzianum
(Nzanza et al., 2012). On the other hand, significantly higher total
biomass recorded with 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices (T7)
followed by 100% RDF (T2: N-P-K @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1) among
treatments at all growing stages. This indicates TV + GI combination
with 75% RDF was most effective in terms of total biomass store in the
plant. Results confirmed that use of TV + GI minimize the dependence
on chemical fertilizer for obtaining potential plant growth. Similarly,
Colla et al. (2015) reported that use of G. intraradices and T. viride in-
creased the dry biomass of vegetable crops. Likewise, Nzanza et al.
(2012) also reported the application of T. harzianum and AMF increased
the dry weight of tomato plant. The combined effect of increase growth
parameters such as leaf area, chlorophyll content, root length and
biomass accumulation lead to increased crops yield. Results suggested
that significantly highest crop yield was observed with 75% RDF + T.
viride + G. intraradices (T7) followed by 75% RDF + T. viride + F.
aurentia (T6). Data showed that TV + GI followed by TV + FA combi-
nation with 75% RDF were most effective in enhancing the crop yield.
Similarly, increase in yield with application of G. intraradices and T.
viride also reported by Colla et al. (2015) in vegetable crops.
The PCA comprising two principal components (C1 and C2)
Fig. 7. Loading plot and grouping of different treatments on the basis of PCA scores of growth and yield attributes crop. Treatment details: T1: NePeK @ 0-0-0 kg
ha−1; T2: NePeK @ 120-60-60 kg ha−1; T3: 75% RDF + T. viride; T4: 75% RDF + F. aurentia; T5: 75% RDF + G. intraradices; T6: 75% RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia;
T7: 75% RDF + T. viride + G. intraradices; T8: 75% RDF + F. aurentia + G. intraradices; T9: 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia + G. intraradices.
98
Scientia Horticulturae 241 (2018) 93–99
Fig. 6. Effect of seed bio-priming with T. viride, F.
aurentia and G. intraradices along with 75 and 100%
RDF of NPK on grain yield of baby corn. Data
(mean ± SE) followed by similar latter within a par-
ticulars DAS are not significant different at p < 0.05
level of significance according to DMRT. Treatment
details: T1: N-P-K @ 0-0-0 kg ha−1; T2: N-P-K @ 120-
60-60 kg ha−1; T3: 75% RDF + T. viride; T4: 75% RDF
+ F. aurentia; T5: 75% RDF + G. intraradices; T6: 75%
RDF + T. aviride + F. aurentia; T7: 75% RDF + T.
viride + G. intraradices; T8: 75% RDF + F. aurentia +
G. intraradices; T9: 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia
+ G. intraradices.
accounted for ∼ 86 and 5 with various treatment combinations (Fig. 7).
An angle of 0 or 180° reflects a correlation of 1 or −1, respectively
(Kohler and Luniak, 2005). Superimposition of treatment along with
microbes on baby crop resulted that 75% RDF + T. viride + G. in-
traradices (T7) followed by 75% RDF + T. viride + F. aurentia (T6)
showed higher correlation with these parameters. A position of 16
parameters in relation to their influence by plant growth and yield
parameters of crop influenced by various treatments, the interpretation
of the PCA results can be explained by the positioning of the treatments
group and group of plant growth and yield component from experiment
by superimposition of respective PCA plots for respective treatment
combination.
5. Conclusions
From the present study, it was confirmed that growth, yield and
yield attributes of baby corn enhanced when the application of fertili-
zers was supplemented with beneficial microbes, while the application
of a different combination of microbes was not always effective to en-
hance growth and yield of the host plant. Overall, conclusions our
finding enlightens the use of microbes in combination with reduced
fertilizer dose (75% RDF) to increase the growth and productivity of the
baby corn for sustainable agriculture.
R.S. Yadav et al.
Acknowledgements
SP is thankful to DST, New Delhi (SR/WOS-A/LS-1199/2015(G) for
financial support and VS is thankful to Department of Biotechnology,
New Delhi India (Project No. BT/PR5990/AGR/5/587/2012) for fi-
nancial support. VSM is thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR), New Delhi India. We also thankful to Editor-in-Chief,
Scientia Horticulturae and anonymous reviewers for their constructive
comments, which helped us to improve the manuscript.
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