Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are the soil bacteria present around the rhizopshere and are involved in promoting plant growth and development via different mechanisms. In order to promote sustainable agriculture, the present investigations were undertaken to screen the PGPR isolates from the plant rhizosphere. A total of eight rhizobacteria were isolated from the wheat plant rhizosphere. The biochemical tests such as Catalase test, oxidase test, nitrate reduction, Citrate Utilization, Urease test, Gelatinase test and carbohydrate utilization carried out for phenotypic identification of isolates. Based on functional characteristics, few isolates were found positive for siderophore, production, Phosphate soulubilization potential and indole production. Subsequently, these isolates also showed in vitro antagonistic activity against Macrophomina phaseolina, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium sp. Therefore, the present study suggested that isolated bacteria showed PGPR potential and biocontrol ability which can be used for biofertilizers as well as biocontrol agents. Consequently, these isolates can be further evaluated under in situ soil microcosm experiments.

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