Journal of Plant Process and Function

The current experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobactria (PGPR) on chlorophyll fluorescence and some physiological parameters in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaf under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted in factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design. Treatments were four levels of salt stress (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM of NaCl) and three levels of PGPR inoculation (control, coinoculation with either Azotobacter+Azospirillum or Azospirillum+Pseudomonas+Bacillus). The results showed that increasing salinity stress significantly increased both minimum and maximum fluorescences (Fo and Fm) and quantum yield of non-regulated non-photochemical quantum efficiency [Y(NO)], while decreased variable fluorescence (Fv), maximum photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II [Y(II)]. The trend of chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a and b (in control treatment) increased at low and medium level of salinity while decreased at higher salinity levels. However, with increasing the salinity level the relative water content (RWC) as well as the amount of carotenoids decreased and electrolyte leakage increased. Inoculation of basil plants with PGPR significantly reduced Fo and Y(NO) while increased Fv, Fv/Fm and NPQ as compared to the uninoculted control. Among the biological treatments, Azospirillum+Pseudomonas+Bacillus by 12% increase in Y(II) and 16% decrease in Y(NO), showed the most positive effects on plant photosynthetic system. Biological treatment also improved chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a and RWC and reduced electrolyte leakage. In conclusion, the current results indicated that the ameliorate effect of PGPR particularly coinoculation of Azospirillum+Pseudomonas+Bacillus on chlorophyll fluorescence and physiological parameters improvement of basil seedling leaves under salinity stress.