Use of Biological Agents: A Step Towards Improving the Potato Growth, Biochemical, Quality Characteristics and Soil Enzymes

Soil bioagents, such as beneficial bacterial and fungal isolates, have been extensively investigated due to positive impact on plant growth. Present trail was planned to check the effects of bacterial and fungal bioagents on the growth, physiology, quality characteristics of potato plants, as well as the enzymatic attributes of the soil. Experimental treatments were comprised different species of bacterial and fungal bioagents i.e., Glutamicibacter protophormiae, Streptomyces spectabilis and Penicillium chrysogenum mixed in the soil and treatment without these agents was considered as control. Results proved that the incorporation of bioagents has beneficial effects on the biomass (fresh and dry), photosynthetic activity, and quality attributes of potato. Bacterial isolates exhibited a modest enhancement in the growth and quality traits of the potato, in contrast to fungal isolates. The addition of Penicillium chrysogenum resulted in a reduction of lipid peroxidation in upper parts (leaves) and enhanced the activity of enzymatic antioxidants, surpassing the effects observed with bacterial bioagents and the control group. A negative relationship was identified between enzymatic activity in leaves and photosynthetic traits. Moreover, addition of fungal isolate improved the carotenoid contents (46.15%), total chlorophyll contents (53.00%), chlorophyll a content (56.00%), and chlorophyll b content (44.00%) compared with control. The variation in chlorophyll levels and soluble sugars cause a decrease in the quality traits of the potato, particularly the amylose (88.72%) and amylopectin levels (135.56%). Furthermore, significant correlation between soil enzymatic traits and the enhancement of tuber quality traits was also noticed. In conclusion, our study suggests that potato cultivation can be effectively carried out using these biological agents, resulting in improved plant quality by the modulation of physio-biochemical attributes of potato and soil health without the need for chemical fertilizers. The use of bacterial and fungal isolates shows great potential for boosting potato growth and promoting agricultural sustainability.