Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Seed Germination

Soil bacteria are able either to stimulate or inhibit seed germination. If seed germination is stimulated, the seedlings of weed species emerge more uniformly, so that they could be killed in the next step of weed control. This investigation focused on testing the germination of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. on several media: Pseudomonas fluorescens (B1), Azotobacter chroococcum (B2), Bacillus licheniformis (B3), B. pumilus (B4), B. amyloliquefaciens (B5). In control, seeds germinated in water. Seed germination varied depending on bacterial media. Germination was inhibited by bacterial treatments B1 and B3, treatments B2 and B4 stimulated germination, while germination in treatment B5 was similar to control.