Background:
Members of the phylum Actinobacteria represents a high proportion of the soil microbial biomass and produce a variety of extracellular enzymes, phytohormones, organic acids and antibiotics, that play an important role in plant growth promotion by means of organic waste recycling, mineralization & solubilization of soil nutrients, enhancement of other beneficial microbes and suppression of harmful pathogens etc. Numerous scientific evidence has reported that within the phylum Actinobacteria, the genus Streptomyces sp. is noteworthy as antibiotic producers, phosphate solubilizers, chitinase inducers and plant growth hormone producers in soil, but the information has been of academic interest only. In India, while bacterial and fungal inoculants are available for many crops, not much information is available on Actinobacterial inoculants.

Technology Details:
Keeping these aspects in view, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, has recently developed a novel “Actinobacterial Consortium” for use in horticultural crops. This is a carrier-based product containing three Streptomyces spp., that have the ability to solubilize insoluble P & Zn, produce phytohormones and a variety of enzymes involved in organic matter recycling. The product can be stored and used without deterioration of its quality for 4-6 months under room conditions. It can be applied either through seed, seedlings, soil, irrigation water (drip irrigation – soil drenching) or by the enrichment of compost/FYM/cocopeat. Benefits of the Technology v Increased seedling vigor v Creates a nutrient-rich environment in the rhizosphere due to enhanced Mineralization v Revitalizes plant health v Reduces 25 % of N& P fertilizer requirement when recommended dosage of organic amendments are applied v Enhances the nutrient uptake of plants v Increases yields by 13 to 24 % in different vegetables.