Abstract
This study investigated the effects of indigenous plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) consortia on corm development, the physiological attributes and nutrient acquisition of Freesia hybrida grown under greenhouse conditions. Five PGPR consortia (A1–A5) were evaluated in comparison with chemical fertiliser and control treatments. The results revealed that A2 and A4 consortia significantly enhanced corm dry weight (by 22%–28%), diameter (by 18%) and chlorophyll content (by 15%) relative to the control, while A1 and A4 promoted cormlet formation. Both A2 and A4 also increased macronutrient uptake, particularly nitrogen (by 21%), potassium (by 24%) and calcium (by 19%), indicating improved root–soil interaction and nutrient use efficiency. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation matrices confirmed a distinct clustering of A2 and A4 treatments, demonstrating consistent broad-spectrum effects on the morphological and nutritional parameters. The findings highlight the potential of native PGPR formulations as sustainable biofertilizers capable of reducing chemical fertiliser dependency and improving soil health in ornamental bulb production systems.