Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry  ISSN 2089-6514 (paper) 
Volume 10, Number 1, April 2021 | Pages: 1-5 | DOI: 10.14421/biomedich.2021.101.1-5 ISSN 2540-9328 (online) 
 
 

 

 

The Effectiveness of Giving Plant PGPR Rhizosphere Bamboo on 

Cocoa Seeds Germination at The Nursery Level 

 
Muhammad Yusril Hardiansyah*, Yunus Musa, Abdul Mollah Jaya 

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin, 

Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10 Tamalanrea Indah, Makassar, Indonesia. 

 

Corresponding author* 
yusrilhardiansyah1@gmail.com 

 

 
Manuscript received: 27 September, 2020. Revision accepted: 26 June, 2021. Published: 01 July, 2021. 

 

 

Abstract 

 

The low productivity of cocoa plantations in Indonesia is partly due to the low quality of seeds, which refers to the impeded growth of 

cultivated cocoa nurseries. Seed is the initial growth of plants so the importance of giving special treatment to seeds will refer to better 

seed growth. Provision of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) microbes can produce indoleacetic acid (IAA) in plants to 

improve the quality of plant growth. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the provision of Plant Growth Promoting 

Rhizobacteria bamboo rhizosphere against cocoa seed germination. The study was carried out in the farmer group garden, Gantarangkeke 

District, Bantaeng. This study was arranged in the form of a two-factor factorial design (F2F) in a randomized block design (RBD). The 

use of cocoa seed type as the first factor consisted of GTB (Gantarangkeke Bantaeng) local cocoa seed and MCC 01 cocoa seed and seed 

immersion treatment at PGPR rhizosphere bamboo concentration as the second factor consisting of 0% (control) concentration, 5%, 10 % 

and 15%. The results obtained indicate that administration of seeds with bamboo rhizosphere PGPR affects the germination (100.00%), 

the speed of seed growth (7.14%/etmal), as well as on abnormal seeds (10.00%). So that the provision of bamboo rhizosphere PGPR on 

cocoa seeds has an effective influence on seed germination and cocoa seedling development. 

 

Keywords: Cocoa Seed; Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria; Seedbed. 

 

 

INTRODUCTION 
 

The soaring increase in world cocoa demand is due to 

the increasing demand for cocoa beans which is getting 

higher every year. The annual world demand for cocoa 

reaches 6.7 million tons and only 2.5 million tons can be 

met. This means that there are still more than 4 million 

tons to meet the increasing market needs, so that this can 

still be an opportunity for Indonesia, especially South 

Sulawesi (Yusniar, 2013). 

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a strategic 

commodity which ideally is able to play a maximum 

role in increasing farmers' income in Indonesia. This can 

happen because cocoa has always had a good price 

development in meeting market needs. However, the 

reality is that even though every year there is an increase 

in the planting area, it cannot increase production. The 

average farmer production is only 1/5 of the potential 

productivity of the cocoa plant, which ranges from 1.2 - 

3 tonnes/ha (Junaedi, et al., 2017). Of course, these 

results are still far from expectations because of the 

many obstacles that occur in the cocoa cultivation 

process. 

One of the factors thought to be the main cause of 

the low productivity of cocoa plantations in Indonesia is 

the low quality of seeds which refers to the inhibition of 

growth in the vegetative phase of cultivated cocoa 

(Mertade & Basri, 2011; Sugiharti, 2006). In general, 

farmers in Indonesia cultivate cocoa using seeds derived 

from beans. Although generative seeding using seeds is 

easy to do and can be produced in large quantities at low 

cost, seedlings of cocoa using seeds will produce 

genetically non-uniform plants. This is because cocoa is 

a cross-pollinating crop (Li et al., 1998). 

This statement indicates the emergence of a problem 

currently being faced, namely whether to increase cocoa 

production to meet cocoa needs in the future, while the 

availability of good quality plant vegetative phase 

conditions is currently difficult to obtain. Cultivation of 

cocoa starts from the nursery stage or the vegetative 

phase and from this stage will determine the success of 

plants in the generative phase. During this nursery 

period, good quality seeds must be obtained so that they 

will be used as a benchmark for optimum growth and 

produce fruit and good quality cocoa beans in the future. 

Of course, in order to get quality seeds, the selection or 

use of good seeds in germination will be a major factor. 

One way to get good seeds is by soaking or soaking the 

seeds. Soaking is a hydration activity slowly before the 

seeds are germinated so that the potential of seed water 

reaches a balance to activate metabolic activities in the 

https://doi.org/10.14421/biomedich.2021.101.1-5


 

 

 

2 Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry 10 (1), 2021: 1-5 
 

 

seeds to improve germination and seed growth (Rouhi et 

al., 2011). 

The immersion treatment can be combined with the 

provision of biological agents capable of improving the 

quality of seed germination, for example with microbes 

that are capable of producing growth hormones in 

plants. One of the microbes that can be used is the 

microbes that come from Plant Growth Promoting 

Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a hormone for plants that can 

provide more nutrients to spur plant growth in the 

vegetative phase of plants. 

The use of PGPR in this plant is proven from several 

research results that have been conducted. The results of 

research by Baihaqi, et al. (2018) show that the use of 

PGPR on cucumber plants can increase plant growth 

from 68.6 to 77.7% compared to without PGPR. Other 

research on plantation crops, namely the results of 

research from Widyaningrum (2017) shows that the 

application of PGPR can increase root length, number of 

roots, number of leaves, plant height, total dry weight, 

shoot root ratio, seed steadfastness and robusta coffee 

seed quality index. 

In the rhizosphere or bamboo roots there are 

Pseudomonas flourenscens bacteria and Bacillus 

polymixa bacteria which can help the decomposition 

process (decomposer). The bamboo root PGPR bacteria 

can secrete a liquid that can dissolve minerals so that 

they become available nutrients, break down and 

decompose organic matter (decomposition of organic 

matter) into plant nutrients. In addition, the 

Pseudomonas fluorenscens and Bacillus polymixa 

bacteria can release enzymes and substances that are 

useful to stimulate plant growth and release antibiotics 

that can inhibit the growth and development of 

pathogenic microbes (microbes that cause disease) 

(Efendi, 2011). 

Research on the presence and diversity of microbes 

in the rhizosphere of bamboo plants has been conducted 

by several previous researchers. According to 

Baharuddin et al. (2007) found antagonistic bacteria 

such as Pseudomonas flourences, Bacillus subtilis and 

Streptomyces in the roots of healthy bamboo plants. 

Meanwhile, research conducted by Asniah (2013) 

showed that the inoculation of fungi from bamboo root 

soil into the nursery soil had a significant effect on 

increasing the wet weight of broccoli plants. 

This study aims to obtain data and information on the 

effectiveness of giving Plant Growth Promoting 

Rhizobacteria rhizosphere of bamboo against cocoa seed 

germination. Information from the results of this study is 

expected to be a solution for cocoa farmers in improving 

their cultivation systems, especially in the nursery phase. 

 

 

METHODS 
 

This research was conducted at the Talaka Farmer 

Group Garden, Gantarangkeke District, Bantaeng 

Regency. This research took place from August to 

November 2019. The tools used were 30 liter buckets, 

hoes, shovels, scissors, knives, machetes, rulers, meters, 

calipers, pH meters, carts, analytical scales, sprayers, 

scales, jerry cans, funnels, aqua plastic bottles, hoses, 

stoves, pans, paranets, cloths, plastic cups, brown 

envelopes, millimeter paper blocks, cameras, signage, 

matches, and writing instruments. The materials used 

were soil samples from the research location, local GTB 

(Gantarangkeke Bantaeng) cocoa seeds, MCC 01 clone 

cocoa seeds, bamboo rhizosphere (Bambusa blumeana), 
molasses, bran, raw shrimp paste, rice water, water, husk 

charcoal, sawdust, clear plastic, dab of soap, polybags 

12 x 17 cm, label paper, dolomite and label paper. 

The study was conducted using a Two-Factor 

Factorial Design (RF2F) in a Randomized Block Design 

(RBD) as an environmental design. This research 

consists of 2 factors. The first factor is the type of cocoa 

seed (b) which consists of: local cocoa seeds GTB 

(Gantarangkeke Bantaeng) (b1) and cocoa seeds clone 

MCC 01 (b2), while for the second factor is the initial 

soaking of seeds with PGPR solution for cocoa seeds. 

with various concentrations of seed priming (k) 

consisting of: 0% concentration (0 ml of PGPR solution 

or 1000 ml of water), 5% concentration (50 ml of PGPR 

+ 950 ml water), 10% concentration (100 ml of PGPR + 

solution 900 ml of water) and a concentration of 15% 

(150 ml of PGPR solution + 850 ml of water). The flow 

of this research includes making a plant growth 

promoting rhizobacteria solution which is carried out by 

taking bamboo rhizosphere then growing it by 

fermentation process in a container for 14 days, 

preparing the seeds by selecting seeds from mother pods 

of MCC 01 and GTB cocoa then separating the placenta 

from the seeds. Giving of PGPR solution to cocoa seeds 

(initial soaking of cocoa seeds) simultaneously 

according to the treatment for 18 hours (Ratnawati et al., 

2013), preparation of sprouts media using sterile cloth 

and sawdust, planting in seedbeds (seedbeds), 

maintenance and observation. 

 

Observation parameters in this study are as follows: 

1. Germination Capacity (%), measurement based on 
observing the number of normal germinated seeds 

marked with cotyledons on the raised seed. 

Calculation of germination that is on day 7 and day 

14 (Deptisari et al., 2018). Sprouts are calculated 

using the formula: 

 

DB =
∑ KN Observation I + ∑ KN Observation II

Number of Seedlings Planted
𝑥 100% 

 

Information: 

DB  : Germination Capacity (%) 

∑ KN Observation I  : The number of sprouts is 

normal on the 7th day 

∑ KN Observation II  : The number of sprouts is 
normal on the 14th day 



 

 

 

 Hardiansyah et al. – The Effectiveness of Giving Plant PGPR Rhizosphere Bamboo on … 3 
 

 

2. Seed Growth Speed (%/etmal), measurement based 
on observing the number of normal germinating 

seeds every day until the day 14 and expressed on a 

percent scale (Tefa, 2017). Seed growth rate is 

calculated using the formula: 

𝐾𝐶𝑇 =  (% 
𝐾𝑁

𝑒𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑙
)  =  ∑

𝑁

𝑡

𝑡𝑛

0

 

 

Information: 

𝑡  : Observation time 
𝑁 : Percentage of normal sprouts every time 

of observation 

𝑡𝑛 : end time of observation (day 14) 
1 etmal : 1 day (24 hours) 

 

3. Abnormal Seeds (%), measurement based on 
observing the number of seeds that germinate 

abnormally. Observation of abnormal seeds is carried 

out on the day 14 after the nursery (Deptisari et al., 

2018). Abnormal seeds are calculated using the 

formula: 
 

Abnormal Seeds =
∑ Abnormal Seeds

Number of Seedlings Planted
𝑥 100% 

 

 
RESULT AND DISCUSSION 
 

The results showed that the use of two types of cocoa 

seeds in the initial soaking treatment of seeds with 

PGPR with seed concentration and the interaction of 

PGPR application on two types of cocoa seeds had a 

very significant effect on seed germination, seed growth 

speed and abnormal seeds in cocoa. The average 

parameter results are presented in Table 1. 

 

 

 

Table 1. Germination (%), Seed Growth Speed (% / etmal) and Abnormal Seed (%) of cocoa on the 14th day of giving PGPR bamboo rhizosphere to 

seeds. 

 

Treatment 
Germination Capacity 

(%) 

Seeds Growth Speed 

(%/etmal) 

Abnormal Seeds 

(%) 

GTB local seeds + PGPR  concentration 0% 90,00d 6,43b 10,00a 

GTB local seeds + PGPR  concentration 5% 90,00d 6,43b 10,00a 

GTB local seeds + PGPR  concentration 10% 93,33c 6,67b 6,67b 

GTB local seeds + PGPR  concentration 15% 100,00a 7,14a 0,00d 

MCC 01 seeds + PGPR  concentration 0% 96,67b 6,90ab 3,33c 

MCC 01 seeds + PGPR  concentration 5% 100,00a 7,14a 0,00d 

MCC 01 seeds + PGPR  concentration 10% 96,67b 6,90ab 3,33c 

MCC 01 seeds + PGPR  concentration 15% 100,00a 7,14a 0,00d 

BNJ 0,05 0,03 0,45 0,40 

 

Information: The numbers followed by the same letter (abcd) in the same row and column mean not significantly different in the BNJ 0.05 level test. 

 

 
 

BNJ test results Table 1. The interaction between the 

use of cocoa species and the treatment of bamboo 

rhizosphere PGPR concentration has a very significant 

effect on cocoa seed germination. The highest 

germination parameter was 100.00%, the highest seed 

growth speed parameter was 7.14% and the highest 

abnormal seed parameter was 10.00%. 

 

Use of Two Types of Cocoa Seeds 
In seed germination in the nursery phase, the results 

showed that the average use of MCC 01 cacao seed type 

had the highest effect on germination and seed growth 

speed, while local GTB seeds had the highest effect on 

abnormal seed conditions. The seeds of MCC 01 had a 

very significant effect on germination, which was 

counted twice on the 7th and 14th day with the highest 

germination rate of 100%, the observed seed growth rate 

for 14 days with the fastest seed growth percentage of 

7.14%/etmal and the percentage of abnormal seeds 

calculated on the 14th day with the highest abnormal 

seeds, namely 10%. This is due to the influence of the 

environment where the seeds grow at the time of the 

nursery, where the humid conditions and long seeding 

times lead to optimum germination and seed growth 

speed. In addition, the genetic factor of the seed itself is 

also a major influence on germination, because if the 

genetic of the seed is not strong enough to accept the 

environmental conditions where it is grown and the 

initial treatment, it will cause the seeds to not have the 

potential to germinate normally or in other words, 

abnormal seeds. This is in accordance with Saleh (2004) 

statement, which states that cocoa has an epigeal 

germination type, so the time needed to produce radicles 

greatly affects the speed of procuring ready-to-channel 

seeds. The process of seed germination is influenced by 

genetic and environmental factors. The improvement of 

the external environment will significantly encourage 

the emergence of radicles as the beginning of the seed 



 

 

 

4 Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry 10 (1), 2021: 1-5 
 

 

germination process. The emergence of sprouts above 

the soil surface is a factor that reflects the vigor of a 

seedling. To find out which treatment can increase 

vigor, the sprouts that can appear above the soil surface 

are observed from the number of seeds germinated. 

The average germination rate with the highest effect 

was the type of MCC 01 seed when compared to the 

local GTB seed germination capacity. The average seed 

germination rate in this study had optimum growth 

because the seeds had been given previous treatment, 

where the highest germination growth in MCC 01 seeds 

and local GTB seeds had been treated with PGPR with a 

concentration of 5% and 15%. Giving PGPR treatment 

with the highest concentration is a major factor in the 

germination power of seeds. This is in line with the 

opinion expressed by Schmidt (2002), that pre-treatment 

is carried out with the aim of increasing the power, 

speed and uniformity of seed germination. 

The average seed growth speed with the fastest effect 

was the MCC 01 seed type when compared to the local 

GTB seed growth rate. The average seed growth speed 

of MCC 01 seeds and local GTB seeds with PGPR 

treatment with a concentration of 5% and 15% showed 

the fastest growing results when compared to other 

seeds. The growth rate of MCC 01 seeds and local GTB 

seeds is influenced by the optimum condition of the 

seeds at the time of the seed nursery and the provision of 

special treatment for seeds so that the metabolism of 

seed growth can run well. This is in line with the 

statement of Lesilolo et al. (2013) stated that the speed 

of seed growth is a process of rapid reactivation of seeds 

if the surrounding conditions are for optimum growth 

and the metabolic process is not hampered. 

Abnormal seeds in the use of local GTB seeds 

without PGPR treatment or control and with PGPR 

treatment with a concentration of 5% showed the highest 

yield of abnormal seed conditions when compared to 

other seeds. Abnormal seeds occur due to the lack of 

pre-treatment of local GTB seeds, besides the physical 

and genetic characteristics of local GTB seeds which 

tend to be weaker than MCC 01 seeds. The occurrence 

of abnormal seeds in the nursery process is due to the 

deterioration of the seeds so that the quality of the seeds 

decreases which resulting in inhibition of the 

germination process. This is in line with the statement of 

Sutopo (2002), that the decline in seeds that occurs 

indicates a decrease in seed quality or viability which 

results in low vigor and poor plant growth and 

production. This is also reinforced by the statement of 

Debtisari et al. (2018), that abnormal seeds are seeds 

that are capable of germinating but do not show the 

potential to develop into normal sprouts. The seed is 

said to grow abnormally if the important structure for 

the germination process is lost or damaged, the growth 

of sprouts is weak due to defective or disproportionate 

sprouts structure, and sprouts with slow growth until the 

end of the test. When compared to normal seed sprouts, 

the abnormal seed growth is smaller than normal 

sprouts. 

 

Concentration of PGPR Rhizosphere Bamboo on 

Seeds 

In the germination of seeds in the nursery phase, the 

results showed that the treatment of seed concentration 

using the bamboo rhizosphere PGPR had a very 

significant effect on germination capacity, germination 

speed, and the percentage of abnormal seeds. This is 

because the need for PGPR or initial immersion of seeds 

can result in a more active metabolism of seeds to 

support germination, besides that the use of PGPR 

microorganisms can improve seed quality because 

PGPR acts as a growth stimulant (biostimulant) by 

synthesizing and regulating the concentration of various 

regulatory substances. growing (phytohormones) very 

well on seeds. This is supported by research from 

Baihaqi et al. (2018) which states that soaking seeds 

with PGPR is intended so that the bacteria contained in 

PGPR are able to colonize the seeds as early as possible. 

The right long soaking treatment can increase plant yield 

because the bacteria will bind the seedcoat and imbibe it 

into the seeds. 

 

 

CONCLUSION 
 

Giving PGPR bamboo rhizosphere from several 

concentrations gave different responses to cocoa seed 

germination including the parameters of germination 

(100.00%), seed growth speed (7.14%/etmal), and 

abnormal seeds (10.00%). So that seed treatment with 

bamboo rhizosphere PGPR has an effective effect on 

cocoa seed germination. 
 
 

Conflict of interest: The author declares that there are 
no conflicts of interest concerning the publication of this 

article. 
 
 

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