Buntić, Aneta Pešić, Mila Rasulić, Nataša Stajković-Srbinović, Olivera Delić, Dušica Milinković, Mira Knežević, Magdalena Proceedings of the International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceProceedings 2023 application/pdf 887565 bytes Bacillus spp.; PGP bacteria; seed germination; seedling shoots and roots; Medicago sativa Sustainable Forage Crop Production: Application of New Bacillus Isolates from Alfalfa Rhizosphere Soil https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:3336 doi:10.61463/ijset.icafip-2023.101 All rights reserved eng Abstract:The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of the new Bacillus spp. isolates as promising plant growth promoters in alfalfa cultivation. As one of the most widely grown forage legumes in the world, yield and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) are of great importance. A total of five obtained Bacillus spp. isolates were tested for plant growth promoting (PGP) traits and applied as single inoculant in alfalfa seed treatments in vitro. Isolates I1 and I2 showed all PGP traits (phosphate solubilization and production of indole-3- acetic acid and siderophores). Treatments of alfalfa seeds with five tested isolates induced increase in shoot and root length, compared to the control. The highest shoot and root length of alfalfa seedlings was resulted by seed inoculation with I3 and I1 inoculums, respectively. The results of this study highlight the potential of rhizosphere soil to harbor beneficial bacterial strains that could be exploited for PGP of a broad range of plants.