Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F (2025)

The interaction between plants and beneficial soil microorganisms has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance both productivity and phytochemical composition in medicinal and vegetable crops. Solanum melongena L. (brinjal or eggplant) is a widely cultivated vegetable known for its high antioxidant potential, attributed to its secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The present study investigates the influence of a plant growth promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) consortium composed of Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens on growth, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and pharmacological activities of brinjal. The consortium inoculation significantly increased chlorophyll content, plant biomass, and fruit yield, alongside enhancing the accumulation of total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. GC-MS profiling revealed elevated levels of nasunin, chlorogenic acid, and solasodine in treated plants. Furthermore, extracts from inoculated plants showed higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities compared to the control. These findings highlight the potential of microbial consortia as bioenhancers for improving the nutritional and therapeutic quality of brinjal.