TABLE 3.

Effect of seed inoculation with isolated root-associated bacterial strain Paenibacillus sp. s37 on root development and chlorophyll levels of A. nordmanniana after 2 years of growth under field conditions.

Treatment	Control (−)	Paenibacillus sp._s37
Number of main tap roots	4.72.2	4.51.8
Number of secondary roots	23.46.7	43.84.3*
FW (g) secondary roots	23.85.9	48.37.7*
Chl (a + b) (mg/g) of first whorl needles	1.040.02	1.170.04*

Numbers represent mean values of six replicates per treatment. * Significant differences (P < 0.05); FW, fresh weight; Chl, chlorophyll.