Abstract

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria have been known to reduce harmful effects of stresses such as water deficit. This study was designed to investigate the inoculation effects of P. fluorescens FY 32 on the growth of canola spring cultivars under drought stress. A factorial-split plot design in completely randomized blocks with three replications was conducted in hydroponic cultivation system. Six canola cultivars, including Hyola 308, Sarigol, RGS 003, Arnica, Hyola 420 and Olga were inoculated with P. fluorescens FY 32 or left non-inoculated as Control. Three levels of drought stress (control, 70 and 50% FC) were applied to the hydroponic cultivation system. Drought stress significantly reduced relative water content (RWC), leaf area> shoot height, root length and soluble sugar but augmented chl a and total chl content and the total proline. Our results showed that bacterial inoculation had a positive effect in reducing the deleterious effects of drought stress in some cases.