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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391552
Research Project: Development of New Production Methodologies for Biocontrol Agents and Fastidious Microbes to Improve Plant Disease Management

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Title: Biofertilizing effect of putative plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in vitro and in tomatillo seedlings (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.)

Author
item RAMIREZ-CARINO, HERIBERTO-FORTI - Interdisciplinary Research Center For Intergal Regional Development
item MORALES, ISIDRO - Interdisciplinary Research Center For Intergal Regional Development
item GUADARRAMA-MENDOZA, PAULA CECILIA - Technological Univeristy Of The Mixteca
item GONZALEZ-TERREROS, ELIZABETH - University Of The Sierra Juarez
item MARTINEZ-GUTIERREZ, GABINO ALBERTO - Interdisciplinary Research Center For Intergal Regional Development
item Dunlap, Christopher
item VALADEZ-BLANCO, ROGELIO - Mixteca Technological University

Submitted to: Scientia Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/27/2022
Publication Date: 1/27/2023
Citation: Ramirez-Carino, H.F., Morales, I., Guadarrama-Mendoza, P.C., Gonzalez-Terreros, E., Martinez-Gutierrez, G.A., Dunlap, C.A., Valadez-Blanco, R. 2023. Biofertilizing effect of putative plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in vitro and in tomatillo seedlings (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.). Scientia Horticulturae. 308. Article 111567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111567.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111567

Interpretive Summary: This study identified several new strains of bacteria that are useful in promoting plant growth. These types of bacteria are useful in allowing plants to better utilize available nutrients and minimize the need for additional fertilizers. The study identified six bacteria isolates that were effective in promoting the growth of tomatillo seedlings. The strains will continue to be evaluated for commercial production applications and will help us understand how bacteria interact with plants to improve crop production and protection.

Technical Abstract: It has been widely reported that rhizobacteria improve plant nutrition and growth. Therefore, they can be utilized to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers. The mechanisms involved in rhizobacteria biofertilization include phosphorus and potassium solubilization, nitrogen fixation, ammonia production, and phytohormones synthesis. In this study, six rhizobacteria were isolated and identified from wild plants of Physalis sp. and their biofertilization mechanisms were assessed in vitro. Of these isolates, four were further tested in tomatillo seedlings. The in vitro assays results indicated that the bacterium identified as Atlantibacter sp. showed activity in all biofertilization mechanisms evaluated, with the best results in phosphorus solubilization and indole acetic acid synthesis. In the seedlings experiment, the seedlings with bacterial treatments presented higher leaf weight (>349%) and root length (>11%), than the control. Seedlings treated with Priestia megaterium resulted in the highest height of seedlings, 140% compared to the control. In addition, P. megaterium and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were significantly higher in the concentration of three minerals: K (54 and 37%), Ca (88 and 80%), and Mg (89 and 81%). Tested strains: P. megaterium, A. calcoaceticus, and Atlantibacter sp. demonstrated outstanding biochemical and agronomical characteristics in vitro and in vivo, making them excellent biofertilizer candidates for tomatillo crop production.