GROWTH-PROMOTING EFFECT OF AZOSPIRILLUM-BRASILENSE ON CASUARINA-CUNNINGHAMIANA MIQ SEEDLINGS

The growth of Casuarina cunninghamiana seedlings was stimulated when inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense. This resulted in a higher biomass production than in uninoculated controls in the presence or absence of a non-nodulating strain of Frankia. Increase in whole plant dry weight was due to a significant increase in both shoot and root biomass, which corresponded with a higher total N content of the plants inoculated with Azospirillum. No such effects were observed under inoculation with a non-nodulating Frankia strain. These results suggest that the growth-promoting substances provided by A. brasilense may have enhanced the growth of Casuarina seedlings.