POTENTIAL OF INDOLE ACETIC ACID PRODUCING RHIZOBACTERIA TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH AND INCREASE THE YIELD OF EDAMAME, A VEGETABLE SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX)

ABSTRACT Five isolates of indole acetic acid (IAA) producing rhizobacteria have been isolated from rhizospheres of plants grown in Bali, Indonesia. Based on 16s rRNA gene analysis those isolates was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia rettgeri, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus. All of those isolates significantly (P<0.05) increased relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate, leaf size, chlorophyll content of leaf, dry weight of roots and shoots, number of root nodules of edamame, a vegetable soybean. Treatment with rhizobacteria was also significantly (P<0.05) increased number of pod plant-1, weight of pods plant-1, pod weight, and protein content in the seed. Five isolates of IAA producing rhizobacteria treatment increased the number of pod plant-1 ranged from 42.06% to 54.48%, weight of pods plant-1 ranged from 69.62% to 91.08%, pod weight ranged from 13.91% to 28.53%, and protein content in the seed ranged from 13.24% to 28.94% when compared to control. These results suggested that these five isolates of IAA producing rhizobacteria can be used as bio-stimulant to increase productivity of edamame in Indonesia. KEYWORDS : edamame, indole acetic acid, rhizobacteria, growth promotion