AUTHOR=Bhatt Kalpana , Maheshwari Dinesh Kumar 

TITLE=Bacillus megaterium Strain CDK25, a Novel Plant Growth Promoting Bacterium Enhances Proximate Chemical and Nutritional Composition of Capsicum annuum L

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.01147

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2020.01147

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The present study aimed to scrutinize the effect of different cow dung bacterial treatments on the nutritional value of <italic>Capsicum annuum</italic> L. Among all treatments, seeds inoculated with <italic>Bacillus megaterium</italic> (CDK25) showed significant enhancement in various proximate constituents <italic>viz</italic>., crude fiber (3.31%), crude protein (3.84%), and ash (2.53%) as compared to control. Likewise, significant increase in different nutrient contents <italic>viz</italic>., Ca (16.26 mg/100 g), Mg (17.37 mg/100 g), P (11.91 mg/100 g), K (0.47 mg/100 g), Fe (1.37 mg/100 g), and Zn (0.21 mg/100 g) was recorded over the control. Principal component analysis data depicts a positive correlation between different treatments with variables, validating enhancement in nutritional constituents by <italic>B. megaterium</italic> (CDK25) treatment. The study suggests the application of “<italic>B. megaterium</italic>” for achieving the persistent potential for augmenting and boosting up plant biological, functional, and nutritional assets, thereby enhancing the overall edible quality of <italic>C. annuum</italic> L. along with weathering of soil minerals.</p>