Influence of cap-34 and pseudomonas putida strain p1f on germination and growth enhancement in pisum sativum

This study evaluated the growth-promoting efficiency of CAP-34 and Pseudomonas putida strain P1f on seed germination and overall performance of Pisum sativum, an economically important crop in India. CAP-34 is a 34 kDa basic protein purified from Clerodendrum aculeatum leaves known to induce resistance in plants, whereas P. putida P1f is a plant growth–promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy plants. PGPR enhance plant growth directly through auxin production, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore secretion, and indirectly by inducing systemic resistance and suppressing pathogens. Seeds treated with CAP-34 showed the highest germination percentage (76.63%), followed by P1f (68.88%) and control (66.66%). However, the vigour index was highest in P1f-treated seeds (1183), compared to CAP-34 (1113.87) and control (837.91), indicating stronger seedling development under P1f treatment. For growth assessment, six treatment combinations involving foliar spray and root inoculation were evaluated for plant height, flower number, fruit number, fresh weight of root and shoot, and fruit weight after three months. The combined treatment of CAP-34 (foliar) and P1f (root) resulted in maximum plant height, while root inoculation with P1f alone produced the highest fruit number. Foliar application of P1f enhanced flowering, CAP-34 foliar treatment increased root fresh weight, and dual application of P1f (foliar + root) yielded the highest shoot fresh weight. ANOVA showed significant differences for plant height (P = 0.026) and fresh weight (P = 0.006). Overall, both agents effectively promoted growth from germination to fruit yield, with treatment-specific advantages depending on application method.