Soil Inoculation with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa 3MT Eliminates the Inhibitory Effect of 3- Chloro- and 4-Chlorobenzoate on Tomato Seed Germination.

The e�ects of 3-chloro- and 4-chlorobenzoate (3-CBA, 4-CBA) on the germination of di�er-
ent crop seeds were tested. Brinjal (egg plant) and tomato seeds were highly sensitive to 200 mg lÿ1 of
either 3-CBA or 4-CBA and showed marked reduction in germination percentage and seedling vigour
index. A number of abnormalities were observed in all seedlings at higher concentrations of the chemi-
cals. At 400 mg mlÿ1 germination of tomato seeds was completely inhibited on moist ®lter paper. A
marked reduction in protease activity was observed in germinating tomato seeds treated with these
chemicals. Inoculation of 3-CBA- or 4-CBA-treated soil with a chlorobenzoate-degrading Pseudomonas
aeruginosa 3mT (1 mg gÿ1 soil) completely protected the tomato seeds and seedlings. The inoculated bac-
terial strain grew well in the soil utilizing the chlorobenzoates and developed 1�109 and 8�108 cfu gÿ1
in 3-CBA- and 4-CBA-treated soil, respectively, as against of 3�107 cfu gÿ1 in the absence of these
chlorobenzoates.