**4. Tomato seed immersion treatment on growth and yield of tomato plants**

Treatment of tomato seeds with *Pseudomonas* spp. bacterial suspension in addition to spurring the germination of tomato seeds also has an impact on the growth and yield of tomato fruit [13]. Significant differences were observed (P ≤ 0.01) among plant height and leaf numbers for *P. alcaligenes* bacteria isolate and the application method used (**Table 3**). Also significant differences were observed (P ≤ 0.01) among fruit number, total fruit weight per plant, and weight per tomato fruit for *P. alcaligenes* bacteria isolate and the application method used (**Table 4**).

Soaking tomato seeds with *P. alcaligenes* suspension yielded a significant effect on the number of tomato leaves, where the number of leaves reached 192.11 strands on immersion with *P. alcaligenes* TmA1, followed by *P. alcaligenes* TrN2 where the number of leaves reached 182.4 strands. There were 161.6 strands on soaking the seeds with *P. alcaligenes* KtS1, whereas in soaking the seeds with distilled water, the number of leaves was only 78.6 strands. Soaking tomato seeds with *P. alcaligenes* suspension also yields a significant effect on tomato plant height. The highest tomato plant reached 120.4 cm in tomato seed immersion with suspension *P. alcaligenes* TmA1, followed by 116.3 cm with *P. alcaligenes* TrN2, and 114.1 cm with *P. alcaligenes* KtS1, while in soaking the seeds with distilled water, tomato plant height was

> only 36.1 cm. The abovementioned data indicate that the seed-soaking treatment is the best application method when compared to soaking the roots of the seedlings or watering the

> Soaking tomato seeds with *P. alcaligenes* suspension has a significant effect on the number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, average weight per fruit unit, and fruit weight in hectare. On the weight parameters of tomato per plant, the average weight per fruit unit, and the weight of tomato per hectare, it was found that soaking the tomato seeds with a suspension of *P. alcaligenes* TmA1 had a significant effect and was significantly different with all other treatments. The highest weight of tomatoes per plant, weight per fruit unit, and fruit weight per hectare was found in tomato seed immersion treatment with *P. alcaligenes* TmA1 suspension that are 451.9, 7.2, and 20.3 tons, respectively. This value differs significantly with

> 1. Soaking tomato seeds in a suspension of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp. can accelerate germination by 2–3 days than when not being immersed in both bacterial suspensions.

> 2. Soaking the tomato seed for 10–30 min in *Pseudomonas* spp. suspension yields the same

tomato seeds (**Table 3**)

**Treatment Application** 

Distilled water (control)

**methods**

**Fruit number**

*P. alcaligenes* KtS1 Root dipping 41.9b 231.6e 5.1bc 10.4e

*P. alcaligenes* TrN2 Root dipping 58.8a 237.2d 4.1cd 10.7d

*P. alcaligenes* TmA1 Root dipping 54.9b 259.4d 4.8bc 11.7d

*Notes*: Values followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different at 5% DMRT.

**Table 4.** *Pseudomonas alcaligenes* isolates and the application method on yield of tomato plants.

**Fruit weight/plant** 

PGPR (*Plant Growth Promoting Rizobacteria*) Benefits in Spurring Germination, Growth…

**Average weight per fruit (g)**

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78776

**Fruit weight/ha (tons)**

23

**(g)**

Root dipping 30.6c 84.0e 2.8d 3.8e Seed soaking 30.6c 84.0e 2.8d 3.8e Seedling watering 30.6c 84.0e 2.8d 3.8e

Seed soaking 55.0a 278.3d 5.1bc 12.5d Seedling watering 48.8b 241.0d 5.0bc 10.8d

Seed soaking 70.7a 393.1b 5.9ab 17.7b Seedling watering 62.9a 330.4c 5.3bc 14.9c

Seed soaking 64.3a 451.9a 7.2a 20.3a Seedling watering 58.9a 376.3b 6.7ab 16.9b

all other treatments (**Table 4**).

effect on the speed of germination of tomato seeds.

**5. Conclusion**


*Notes*: Values followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different at 5% DMRT.

**Table 3.** *Pseudomonas alcaligenes* isolate treatment and the application method on plant height and leaf number of tomato plants.

PGPR (*Plant Growth Promoting Rizobacteria*) Benefits in Spurring Germination, Growth… http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78776 23


*Notes*: Values followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different at 5% DMRT.

**Table 4.** *Pseudomonas alcaligenes* isolates and the application method on yield of tomato plants.

only 36.1 cm. The abovementioned data indicate that the seed-soaking treatment is the best application method when compared to soaking the roots of the seedlings or watering the tomato seeds (**Table 3**)

Soaking tomato seeds with *P. alcaligenes* suspension has a significant effect on the number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, average weight per fruit unit, and fruit weight in hectare. On the weight parameters of tomato per plant, the average weight per fruit unit, and the weight of tomato per hectare, it was found that soaking the tomato seeds with a suspension of *P. alcaligenes* TmA1 had a significant effect and was significantly different with all other treatments. The highest weight of tomatoes per plant, weight per fruit unit, and fruit weight per hectare was found in tomato seed immersion treatment with *P. alcaligenes* TmA1 suspension that are 451.9, 7.2, and 20.3 tons, respectively. This value differs significantly with all other treatments (**Table 4**).

#### **5. Conclusion**

**4. Tomato seed immersion treatment on growth and yield of tomato** 

Treatment of tomato seeds with *Pseudomonas* spp. bacterial suspension in addition to spurring the germination of tomato seeds also has an impact on the growth and yield of tomato fruit [13]. Significant differences were observed (P ≤ 0.01) among plant height and leaf numbers for *P. alcaligenes* bacteria isolate and the application method used (**Table 3**). Also significant differences were observed (P ≤ 0.01) among fruit number, total fruit weight per plant, and weight per tomato fruit for *P. alcaligenes* bacteria isolate and the application method used

Soaking tomato seeds with *P. alcaligenes* suspension yielded a significant effect on the number of tomato leaves, where the number of leaves reached 192.11 strands on immersion with *P. alcaligenes* TmA1, followed by *P. alcaligenes* TrN2 where the number of leaves reached 182.4 strands. There were 161.6 strands on soaking the seeds with *P. alcaligenes* KtS1, whereas in soaking the seeds with distilled water, the number of leaves was only 78.6 strands. Soaking tomato seeds with *P. alcaligenes* suspension also yields a significant effect on tomato plant height. The highest tomato plant reached 120.4 cm in tomato seed immersion with suspension *P. alcaligenes* TmA1, followed by 116.3 cm with *P. alcaligenes* TrN2, and 114.1 cm with *P. alcaligenes* KtS1, while in soaking the seeds with distilled water, tomato plant height was

**Treatment Application method Plant height (cm) Leaf number (leaf)**

Seed soaking 36.1d 78.6f Seedling watering 36.1d 78.6f

Seed soaking 114.1ab 167.6b Seedling watering 98.5c 150.1bc

Seed soaking 116.3a 182.4a Seedling watering 104.5bc 149.8bc

Seed soaking 120.4a 192.1a Seedling watering 105.5bc 157.7b

Distilled water (control) Root dipping 36.1d 78.6f

*P. alcaligenes* KtS1 Root dipping 87.7c 109.2e

*P. alcaligenes* TrN2 Root dipping 97.6c 118.4de

*P. alcaligenes* TmA1 Root dipping 98.3c 129.4cd

*Notes*: Values followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different at 5% DMRT.

**Table 3.** *Pseudomonas alcaligenes* isolate treatment and the application method on plant height and leaf number of tomato

**plants**

22 Recent Advances in Tomato Breeding and Production

(**Table 4**).

plants.

1. Soaking tomato seeds in a suspension of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp. can accelerate germination by 2–3 days than when not being immersed in both bacterial suspensions.

2. Soaking the tomato seed for 10–30 min in *Pseudomonas* spp. suspension yields the same effect on the speed of germination of tomato seeds.

3. Soaking of tomato seeds in *Bacillus* sp. tends to cause tomato growth faster than soaking in *Pseudomonas* spp. suspension.

[9] Hatayama K, Kawai S, Shoun H, Ueda Y, Nakamura A. *Pseudomonas azotifigens* sp. nov., a novel nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from a compost pile. International Journal of

PGPR (*Plant Growth Promoting Rizobacteria*) Benefits in Spurring Germination, Growth…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78776

25

[10] Mukaromah F. Relationship between population aphids with CMV disease incidence in the H382 tobacco introduced bacterium *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, red worms (*Lumbricus rubellus*) and virus CMV-48. Essay. Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Jember; 2005 (in

[11] Habazar T, Yaherwandi. Biological Control of Plant Pests and Diseases. Padang: Andalas

[12] Wang SL, Chang WT. Purification and characterization of two bifungsional chitinases/ lysozymes extracellularly produced by *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* K-187 in a shrimp and crab Shell powder medium. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1997;**63**(2):380-386

[13] Widnyana IK, Suprapta DN, Sudana IM, Temaja IGRM. *Pseudomonas alcaligenes*, potential antagonist against *Fusarium oxysporum* f. sp. *lycopersicum* the cause of fusarium wilt disease on tomato. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare. 2013;**3**(7):163-169

Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2005;**55**:1539-1544

bahasa)

Press; 2006 (in Bahasa)

4. Soaking the tomato seed for 20 min with *Pseudomonas* spp. suspension and Bacillus sp. at a population density of 8 × 10<sup>5</sup> CFU can increase the weight of tomatoes to 490% compared to controls.
