Plant growth promoting effects of Alcaligenes 637Ca, Staphylococcus MFDCa-1, MFDCa-2, Agrobacterium A18, Pantoea FF1 and Bacillus M3 were tested on strawberry cv. ‘Aromas’ based on yield, number, and weight of fruit, leaf area, vitamin C, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity and ionic composition of leaves under calcareous soil conditions. The results demonstrated that all of bacterial treatments significantly affected all parameters tested. The best result was obtained from 637Ca treatment, which significantly increased fruit yield, number and weight about 47.5, 34.7, and 9.4%, respectively, compared to control. Except for magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) in the leaf, the concentrations of all plant tissue nutrients [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B)] were significantly increased by bacterial treatments tested. The data in the present study showed that all bacterial treatments including Alcaligenes 637Ca, Staphylococcus MFDCa-1, MFDCa-2, Agrobacterium A18, Pantoea FF1, and Bacillus M3 to strawberry plants can ameliorative the deleterious effect of high lime on fruit yield, growth and nutrition. These results suggested that plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatments could be offer an economic and simple means to increased plant resistance for high calcareous soil conditions.

Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) [(Pseudomonas BA-8 (biological control agent), Bacillus OSU-142 (N₂-fixing), and Bacillus M-3 (N₂-fixing and phosphate solubilizing)] on yield and some fruit properties of strawberry cultivar ‘Selva’ in the province of Erzurum, Turkey in 2002–2003. Foliar + root application of PGPR strains significantly increased yield per plant as compared with the control. Root application of PGPR strains significantly increased total soluble solids, total sugar and reduced sugar, but decreased titratable acidity. It was also determined that bacteria applications have no important effect on the average fruit weight and pH. The results of this study suggested that Pseudomonas BA-8, Bacillus OSU-142 and Bacillus M-3 have potential for increasing yield in strawberry plant.

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of Pseudomonas BA-8 and Bacillus OSU-142 were tested alone or in combination on apple (Malus domestica L.) cvs. ‘Starkrimson’ and ‘Granny Smith’ in terms of yield, growth, and nutrient composition of leaves in the province of Karaman, Turkey. The presence of Pseudomonas BA-8, Bacillus OSU-142 and BA-8+OSU-142 stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increases in both cultivars. Floral and foliar applications of PGPR strains significantly increased yield per trunk cross-section area (13.3–118.5%), fruit weight (4.2–7.5%), shoot length (20.8–30.1%), and shoot diameter (9.0–19.8%) in ‘Starkrimson’ and yield per Trunk Cross Sectional Area (TCSA; 14.9%) and fruit weight (6.5–8.7%) in ‘Granny Smith’ compared with the control. In addition, all nutrient elements' contents (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn) investigated in both cultivars, except Mg in ‘Starkrimson’, were significantly affected by bacterial applications when compared with...