Co-Inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus sp. Enhances Biomass and Photosynthetic Efficiency in Urochloa brizantha

Lorena Emanuelle da Mata Terra, Marinalva Martins dos Santos, Maria Carolina Soares Lopes, Daiane Antunes Pinheiro, Érika Manuela Gonçalves Lopes, Amanda Santos Soares, Thiago Gomes dos Santos Braz, Silvia Nietsche and Junio Cota ()
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Lorena Emanuelle da Mata Terra: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil
Marinalva Martins dos Santos: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil
Maria Carolina Soares Lopes: Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Montes Claros 39401-089, MG, Brazil
Daiane Antunes Pinheiro: Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Montes Claros 39401-089, MG, Brazil
Érika Manuela Gonçalves Lopes: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil
Amanda Santos Soares: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil
Thiago Gomes dos Santos Braz: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil
Silvia Nietsche: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil
Junio Cota: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros 39404-547, MG, Brazil

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The synergism between plant growth-promoting bacteria species (PGPB) was evaluated regarding the effect of inoculation on productivity and the physiological aspects of Urochloa brizantha . The study included seven experimental groups arranged in a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial design consisting of three inoculants ( Azospirillum brasilense , Bacillus sp. isolate EB-40, and Bacillus sp. isolate EB-40 + A. brasilense mixture), two application methods (seed and foliar spray), and controls. The MIX conjugate inoculation significantly increased plant height in all three harvests, with gains of 57%. At 60 and 90 days, MIX increased the number of tillers by 47% and the number of leaves by 61% compared to other treatments in all harvests. MIX also increased shoot dry mass in the second and third harvests, with improvements of 57–60% compared to the control. MIX improved the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and the ratio between variable and maximum chlorophyll fluorescence. Maximum fluorescence (Fm) was 11% higher in MIX-treated plants compared to the control, indicating increased potential photosynthesis. Variable fluorescence (Fv) efficiency improved by 22% for inoculation with A. brasilense and Bacillus sp. Our study reveals that A. brasilense plus the Bacillus sp. isolate EB-40 (MIX) has the potential to improve the resilience and productivity of U. brizantha .

Keywords: plant growth-promoting bacteria; Urochloa brizantha; chlorophyll fluorescence; photosynthesis; forage biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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