THE POTENTIAL USE OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTINGRHIZOBACTERIA (PGPR) FOR TEA PLANT CULTIVATION INASSAM: A REVIEWDhritiman Chanda, G.D. Sharma, MarufaIbnat and Madhumita DeyAbstract Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) have been found to be highly beneficial for plants as they helpdefend against fungal diseases commonly found in soil. They play an important role in plant growth,health and productivity. They increase seedling tolerance to drought, high temperatures, toxic heavy metals,high or low pH and even extreme soil acidity. The use of PGPR has proven to be an environmentally bestway to increase the crop yield by facilitating plant growth through either a direct or indirect mechanism.Tea is grown all over the Assam and cultivated in major areas where chemical fertilizers are used. So, theuse of PGPR can minimise the application of chemical fertilizer for the production of organic tea. Thisreview highlights the future research works which are needed in many areas of Assam by the use of beneficialstrains of PGPR to reduce the use of pesticide for commercial production of organic tea for healthyconsumption by the people at large. |