Improving sweet corn (Zea mays L. var saccharata) growth and yield using Pseudomonas fluorescens inoculation under varied watering regimes

Tayebeh Zarei, Ali Moradi, Seyed Abdolreza Kazemeini, Hooshang Farajee and Alireza Yadavi

Agricultural Water Management, 2019, vol. 226, issue C

Abstract: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Pseudomonas can support plant growth under water stressed conditions. In this study, the effects of four strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens on growth and yield of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var saccharata) were evaluated under various watering regimes. The experiment was a split plot, randomized complete block design at Marvdasht, Fars Province, Iran, during 2016 and 2017. The main factor was irrigation at 100% (I100 no stress), 80% (I80), and 60% (I60) of plant requirement and the sub factor was bacteria inoculation at five levels: P. fluorescens P1, P. fluorescens P3, P. fluorescens P8, P. fluorescens P14, and no inoculation. The results showed that the watering regime at I60 decreased row number per ear, seed number per row, and seed number per ear. Also, thousand-seed weight led to less canned seed yield, ear yield, and biological yield in both years. Root length and dry weight were also reduced by I60 watering. Inoculation with P. fluorescens strains increased water deficit stress tolerance, root growth, and yield components. In this regard, strains P1 and P8 were most effective. The difference between the effectiveness of strains probability is related to ability to solubilize phosphate and siderophore production.

Keywords: Z. mays; Bacterial inoculation; Plant growth promotion; Water use efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:226:y:2019:i:c:s0378377419307103

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105757

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