Contreras-Liza, S. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2023

The use of bacterial consortia improves seed tuber production in potato varieties for frying

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of a consortium of growth-promoting rhizobacteria on potato varieties for frying under controlled conditions. MethodologyThe research was conducted at the Universidad Nacional Jose Faustino Sanchez Carrion, Huacho, Peru. The experiment was carried out in pots in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design with 6 replications, under a factorial arrangement. Four potato genotypes for frying (cv. Bicentenaria, advanced clones UH-9, CIP 396311.1, CIP 399101.1) and four inoculant treatments were used, Azotobacter sp. (T1), Azotobacter sp.+ Bacillus simplex (T2), Azotobacter sp.+ B. subtilis (T3), Azotobacter sp.+ B. subtilis+ B. simplex (T4) and an uninoculated control (T0). The variables studied were vegetative vigor, plant height, number of stems per plant, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight per plant, tuber diameter, and number and weight of tubers per plant. Data were statistically processed and analysed by performing Scott-Knotts comparison of treatments and using principal component analysis. ResultsThe inoculation alone with Azotobacter sp. (T1) or with the consortium Azotobacter sp.+ B. simplex+ B. subtilis (T4) significantly promoted potato growth with respect to the number of stems and number of leaves per plant, as well as weight and number of tubers per plant; for vegetative vigor, the control treatment (T0) obtained differences in comparison with the inoculated treatments. Plant height, number of shoots, fresh and dry weight of foliage and tuber diameter did not show significant differences due to the effect of the inoculation. Interactions between varieties and treatments were found for vegetative vigor, the number of leaves and tubers per plant, being positive for the inoculation with some bacterial consortia. ConclusionBacterial consortia with Azotobacter sp. promote the growth and productivity of potato varieties for processing under greenhouse conditions.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Yield and agronomic performance of sweet corn in response to inoculation with Azospirillum sp. in arid land conditions

Nitrogen is the most common limiting factor for crop productivity and most maize cultivars require fertilizing. Here we report the possibility of partially replacing the nitrogenous fertilizer in sweet corn inoculated with a native strain of Azospirillum in arid land on the coast of Peru. We examined an agronomic experiment in a crop field of arid soils under drip irrigation in Huacho (Peru) using a commercial variety of sweet corn. The treatments were two levels of nitrogen (90 and 180 kg N ha-1), one or two applications to the foliage of a native strain of Azospirillum sp. (1 x 108 CFU/mL) and a control treatment only with nitrogen fertilizer. Eleven agronomic variables related to productive aspects were evaluated, performing statistical analysis and the comparison of treatment means. The inoculation with Azospirillum sp. did not significantly (p> 0.05) affect the total weight of ears, the number of ears per plant and the number of male flowers, but it significantly (p< 0.05) influenced the grain yield per hectare, survival of plants, the weight of grain per plant, diameter and length of the cob. In some productive characteristics of sweet corn cv"Pardo", a significant effect was found by inoculation with Azospirillum sp., surpassing in grain yield the control only with nitrogen fertilization, suggesting that it is possible to complement the application of nitrogen to the soil through the inoculation of this strain, replacing up to 50% of the levels of fertilizer application since the B/C ratio increased.

plant biology↗