The soil microbial communities influence plant growth and development. The playground for this effect is the rhizosphere since the plant root system and the soil microorganisms interact there. This interaction is a complex process influenced by various environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, pH, availability of nutrients, etc. (Mimmo et al. 2018). The plant-associated bacteria can execute beneficial or deleterious effects on plant growth (Dobbelaere et al. 2003). The soil bacteria that positively affect the plant are called Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Kloepper and Schroth 1978). PGPR constitute a vital component of the rhizosphere. They support the development of the plant’s root and shoot systems. PGPR positively affect plant morphogenesis, flowering, and photosynthesis efficiency (Hossain et al. 2017).

The need for environmentally friendly fertilizers or biofertilizers is constantly increasing nowadays (Meliani et al. 2017) on account of soil, water, and air contamination due to chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. A few alternatives to fertilizers that are environmentally friendly have been developed (Gupta et al. 2015). Thus, the impact of PGPR on agriculture steadily increases as they offer an attractive way to replace chemical products. Fertilizers containing microorganisms are an appropriate alternative to chemical ones since they are a natural component of healthy soil that enriches rather than pollutes it (Vessey 2003; Nadeem et al. 2016). Moreover, they produce growth-promoting substances in large quantities that influence the plant’s morphology (Bhattacharyya and Jha 2012).

Many species belonging to g. Pseudomonas possess plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics that allow their application as bacterial fertilizers. They are abundantly present in the rhizosphere. Pseudomonas spp. are known for their well-established growth-promoting mechanisms. They encompass better root colonization, the production of enzymes, metabolites, phytohormones and siderophores, mineral and phosphate solubilization, and plant protection from biotic and abiotic stress (Nadeem et al. 2016).

The application of the microbial PGP properties depends on the microorganism and its plant counterpart. Corn (Zea mays) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world after wheat and rice. It is used as livestock feed, human food, and raw material for several industries (Kumar and Jhariya 2013). The corn growth, development, and yield are well-focused biotechnological targets, and the plant attributes, such as germination rate, drought tolerance, and yield components, are objects of profound research and technological interest. PGPR could be used for maximizing these parameters and applied as a potent tool in sustainable agriculture. The contribution of g. Pseudomonas representatives in the enhancement of some biochemical and agronomic parameters of corn under normal conditions or exposure to various abiotic stress is well-recognized in the literature (Mubeen et al. 2021). However, the use of pseudomonads and their corn counterpart in biofertilization programs must consider the physiological and economic aspects of the process, and the plant growth stimulating effect has to be checked and proved.

This study aimed to explore the PGP capacity of bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas putida species in a model plant system of the economically important corn culture Zea mays.

Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain has been selected on the basis of preliminary biochemical analyses that indicate its potential plant growth-promoting capacity. The biochemical profile of the strain was established applying ApiZYM and Api 20 NE detection systems. The biochemical profile data presented in Table 1 showed activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, indicative for PGP potential due to their involvement in the phosphate solubilization and mineralization. Additional phytohormones analysis showed the biosynthetic capacity of the test strain for the phytohormones gibberellic acid (GA3), indole acetic acid (IAA), and jasmonic acid (data not shown).

The effect of the strain metabolic status on the test plants’ germination was evaluated in order to check the PGP capacity of Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain. The PGP capacity of the bacterial strain was assessed in respect to its test plants. The seeds germination of the test plants was used as an assessment indicator through the quantitative measurement of three indices: length of the radicle, length of the coleoptile, and number of lateral roots. The corn seeds at three experimental concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%) were treated with bacterial cultures, grown for 16 h and 48 h and monitored for their germination capacity. The length of the radicle, length of the coleoptile, and the number of lateral roots were used as growth indicators.

Nowadays, extensive research is focused on PGPR as a versatile replacement of fertilizers, pesticides, and other agrochemicals for the promotion of plant growth. PGPR influence in a positive way (directly or indirectly) the soil structure and fertility, decomposition of organic matter and organic pollutants, solubilization of nutrients of mineral nature, production of plant growth regulators, stimulation of the root growth, and execution of biocontrol against soil and seed-borne pathogens. (Gupta et al. 2015). Assessment of the plant growth-promoting potential of rhizobacteria requires a complex approach that includes, among others, the monitoring of plant germination capacity in test systems.

The data presented in the Results section outline the positive effect of Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain on the germination capacity of the technical crop Zea mays. Its biochemical profile speculated PGP potential, and the determined PGP traits confirmed it. The in vitro treatment of the model plants with bacterial strain improved their germination capacity. Gholami et al. (2009) reported similar results regarding improved seeds germination potential of corn. Other authors observed the same tendency for various crop cultures, such as canola (Glick et al. 1997), wheat (de Freitas and Germida 1992), sunflower (Shaukat et al. 2006), and potato (Frommel et al. 1993), where significant enhancement of the seeds’ emergence was registered – up to 100% of untreated control. It can be speculated that these findings are due to the activity of hydrolytic enzymes that assure intensive substrate assimilation (e.g., α-amylases for the starch) and promote early germination. The enhanced hormones biosynthesis might trigger the activity of these hydrolytic enzymes. In addition, hormone dependency seems to increase the vigour index due to promoted synthesis of indoleacetic acid, the most abundant representative of auxins family of phytohormones. Its role in the root initiation and elongation and in differentiation and proliferation of plant tissues has been well documented (Meliani et al. 2017). Our results with soybean additionally enlarged the spectrum of the crop cultures subjectable to the PGP effect of Pseudomonas putida.

The physiological status of the culture is a parameter correlating with its biosynthetic capacity. The metabolically active 16 h culture expressed high values for the three tested indices and strong correlation coefficients of the bacterial and model plant data sets resulting in a better germination capacity. Pseudomonas putida strains and plants are in commensal relationships. The root exudates of the plant feed the bacteria, and the bacteria stimulate plant growth through the production of hormone precursors and antibiotics that suppress the pathogens’ growth. It also supports nutrients immobilization (Molina et al. 2019). The data comparison for the 16 h and 48 h cultures indicated that the former executed its stimulatory function efficiently enough to result in high values for the all tested indices. The values for the length of the radicle and the coleoptile for the 0.2% suspension of the 48 h culture were slightly higher compared to those for the 16 h one (22.87% vs. 28.33%; and 35.96% vs. 45.96%). However, the shorter cultivation period (16 vs. 48 h) for the bacterial strain can compensate the difference of 5.5% to 10% since this is a defined technological advancement. Furthermore, the third index (the number of the lateral roots) is better presented in the 16 h compared to the 48 h bacterial culture (16.67% vs. 5.41). In fact, the formation of lateral roots contributes to the increase of the root surface reflecting the nutrients’ assimilation.

The results demonstrate that the Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain possesses defined plant growth-promoting capacity. It enhances the process of corn germination due to the increased number of lateral roots and enlarged length of the coleoptile and the root. The optimal treatment parameters of the corn seeds, considering both the physiological and economic aspects of the process, comprise the application of 0.2% suspension of 16 h grown Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain for five days.

The positive germination capacity effect exerted by Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain contributes to improve our knowledge of the variety of approaches and mechanisms that are implicated in the plant growth promotion by these bacteria. However, greater understanding of the interaction between bacteria and host plants requires further study. From an economic point of view, in light of the possible application of Pseudomonas putida 1046 strain as a bioinoculant, the use of less concentrated suspension is more feasible and cost-effective.