EVALUATION OF YEASTS AS PLANT GROWTH PROMOTER FOR RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.), PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) AND TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM L.) SEEDLINGS

Abstract

Yeast populations are usually higher in the rhizosphere as opposed to the bulk soil and this has increased the association between yeasts and different agricultural crops. The use of yeast as a growth promoter in agriculture has received considerable attention because of their bioactivity and safety for human and the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate yeast isolates from different sources for their plant growth promoting ability for Rice (Oryza sativa L.), Pepper (Capsicum annum L), and Tomato (lycopersicon esculentum L.) seedlings. The study was conducted from December, 2016 to April, 2017 in University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.This study was performed by utilizing laboratory based experimental design. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data for data analysis and the data recorded was analyzed using SPSS version 17 software and analysis of variance (ANOVA).The analyzed data were interpreted by using descriptive statistics, charts, tables, and graphs. Stem length (cm), number of nodes, number of internodes, and number of leaves, root length and fresh and dry weights of tomato, pepper and rice seedling varieties positively and significantly responded to yeast application. Rhizospheric soil yeast isolates (I5) were achieved the highest values (17.45 cm stem length of Tomato Melksalsa, 15.2g fresh weight of Pepper IM 42, 13.35 numbers of leaves of Tomato Melksalsa , 9.05 internodes and 9.35 number of node of Tomato Melksalsa and 3.5g dry weight measurement of the Pepper IM 42). The root elongation efficacy by Isolate 5 (I5) were the highest percentage in Pepper IM 42 (57.25%), Pepper Markofana (55.08%), Rice x-jigna (50.40%), Rice ediget (48.275%), Rice Getachew (59.84%), Tomato melksalsa (55.17%), Tomato kochero (57.44%) and Tomato miya (69.46%). It can be concluded that yeasts effectively improved the growth of Tomato, Pepper, and Rice seedling varieties without causing any impact on the environment and on the ecology of other organisms. So this study will provide the community and farmers the cost effective type of organic fertilizer for the production of sustainable agricultural Rice (Oryza sativa), Pepper (Capsicum annum L.), and Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L) varieties by yeast.