Effect of Consortium of Nitrogen Fixing Endophytic Bacteria on Sucrose Metabolism and Nitrate Assimilation in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

Sugarcane is cultivated throughout the Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia and Maharashtra is second largest producer. The leaf samples were collected at different stages of crop growth from Rahuri farm and were evaluated for nitrate assimilating enzyme viz., in vitro nitrate reductase and sucrose metabolizing enzymes activities viz., sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and acid invertase. The experiment was laid out in R.B.D. with four replications and six treatments. Nitrogen fertigation was given as 100 % N through urea (T2), 50 % N + Acetobacter diazotrophicus (T3), 25 % N + consortium endophytic bacteria (T4), 0 % N + consortium endophytic bacteria (T5), 0 % N +without consortium endophytic bacteria (T6) and absolute control (T1). The results of the experiment revealed that enzymes activities viz., in vitro nitrate reductase, sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and acid invertase by sugarcane crop was significantly higher in T4 treatment (25 % N + foliar application of consortium of endophytic bacteria) followed by Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (R.D.F.) treatment and 0% N with foliar application of consortium of endophytic bacteria. Hence, the use of foliar spray of consortium of N fixers @ 25 % concentration can save 75 % of nitrogen without affecting yield.