**2. Concentration levels of** *Pseudomonas* **spp. and** *Bacillus* **sp. in germination of tomato seeds**

Soaking of tomato seeds in *Pseudomonas* spp. at a concentration of 8 × 108 CFU produced the highest germination percentage that of 91.7%, while germination in distilled water was at 41.6%. Concentrations of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp. significantly influenced tomato seed germination (**Figure 1**).

Soaking tomato seeds with bacterial suspension *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus sp*. gives a significant effect when soaked for 10–20 min at a concentration from 4 × 10<sup>5</sup> CFU, 8 × 10<sup>5</sup> , and 12 × 10<sup>5</sup> CFU (**Figure 2**). Tomato seeds soaked in a mixture of bacterial suspension of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp. showed significant effect when compared to distilled water. A previous study conducted by Widnyana et al. [7] involving the soaking of swamp cabbage (*Ipomoea reptans* Poir) seeds for 20 min with suspension of *P. alcaligenes* TrN2 resulted in 25% faster germination and increased fresh weight of stems up to 67.07%, compared to soaking of seeds in distilled water.

**3. Effect of immersion of tomato seeds in** *Pseudomonas* **spp. and** 

**Figure 1.** Percentage of tomato seed germination at different concentrations of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp.

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

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

19

Soaking tomato seeds with *Pseudomonas* spp. suspension and *Bacillus* sp. can increase the growth of tomato plants. This is evidenced in **Table 1**, with the increase in plant height followed by the increase in number of tomato plant leaves. The positive effect of soaking the tomato seeds is obtained on population density of *Bacillus* sp. and *Pseudomonas* spp. which is

**Figure 2.** The percentage of tomato seeds germinated after soaking in bacterial suspensions of *Pseudomonas* spp. and

*Bacillus* **sp. on plant height and number of leaves**

*Bacillus* sp.

**1. Tomato and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria**

through the formation of siderophores and antibiotics [1, 2].

nism in spurring plant growth.

18 Recent Advances in Tomato Breeding and Production

**germination of tomato seeds**

seed germination (**Figure 1**).

seeds in distilled water.

and 12 × 10<sup>5</sup>

Tomato is a potential horticultural crop for cultivation due to its high economic value. The production of the crop in Indonesia was 864,798 t/ha in 2008–2011, with an average productivity of 21.5 t/ha, which is below production levels of 100 t/ha in the United States and Europe. Rhizobacteria of *Pseudomonas* spp. group are beneficial for plants, improving soil fertility, and function as biological control agents for plant pathogens and have the potential of increasing plant resistance (induced systemic resistance; ISR) [1]. Rhizobacteria plays an indirect role as a biological fertilizer and biological stimulant through the production of plant growth hormones, such as indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, and solubilizing minerals. These organisms also indirectly function to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms,

Rhizobacteria, such as *P. fluorescens*, *P. putida*, and *P. aeruginosa*, are beneficial to plants as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), with the ability to control plant diseases [3, 4]. Research on the benefits of *Pseudomonas* spp. still continues to better understand its mecha-

*Bacillus* sp. is a Gram-positive bacteria used in controlling root disease. These bacteria produce spores that can be stored for long periods and are easily inoculated into the soil. Previous research has shown that the bacteria *Bacillus* strains PRBS-1 and AP-3 proved to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi (*Rhizoctonia solani*, *Colletotrichum truncatum*, *Sclerotinia sclerotiorum*, *Macrophomina pha-*

Rhizobacteria can be used as a bioprotectant that can suppress the development of plant pests/diseases, as a biostimulant that for production of indole acetic acid (IAA), cytokines,

Soaking of tomato seeds in *Pseudomonas* spp. at a concentration of 8 × 108 CFU produced the highest germination percentage that of 91.7%, while germination in distilled water was at 41.6%. Concentrations of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp. significantly influenced tomato

Soaking tomato seeds with bacterial suspension *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus sp*. gives a

*Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp. showed significant effect when compared to distilled water. A previous study conducted by Widnyana et al. [7] involving the soaking of swamp cabbage (*Ipomoea reptans* Poir) seeds for 20 min with suspension of *P. alcaligenes* TrN2 resulted in 25% faster germination and increased fresh weight of stems up to 67.07%, compared to soaking of

CFU (**Figure 2**). Tomato seeds soaked in a mixture of bacterial suspension of

CFU, 8 × 10<sup>5</sup>

,

*seolina*, and *Phomopsis* sp.) in soybean seeds and enhanced the growth of plants [5].

and gibberellin, and as a biofertilizer for increasing nutrient availability to plants [6].

**2. Concentration levels of** *Pseudomonas* **spp. and** *Bacillus* **sp. in** 

significant effect when soaked for 10–20 min at a concentration from 4 × 10<sup>5</sup>

**Figure 1.** Percentage of tomato seed germination at different concentrations of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp.

**Figure 2.** The percentage of tomato seeds germinated after soaking in bacterial suspensions of *Pseudomonas* spp. and *Bacillus* sp.
