Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Enhance Survival, Growth, and Nutritional Content of Sugarcane Propagated through Pre-Sprouted Seedlings under Water Deficit

Laura Costa Oliveira Almeida, Hariane Luiz Santos, Carlos Henrique de Castro Nogueira, Melina Rodrigues Alves Carnietto, Gustavo Ferreira da Silva, Carmen Sílvia Fernandes Boaro and Marcelo de Almeida Silva ()
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Laura Costa Oliveira Almeida: Laboratory of Ecophysiology Applied to Agriculture (LECA), School of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Hariane Luiz Santos: Laboratory of Ecophysiology Applied to Agriculture (LECA), School of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Carlos Henrique de Castro Nogueira: Laboratory of Ecophysiology Applied to Agriculture (LECA), School of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Melina Rodrigues Alves Carnietto: Laboratory of Ecophysiology Applied to Agriculture (LECA), School of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Gustavo Ferreira da Silva: Laboratory of Ecophysiology Applied to Agriculture (LECA), School of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Carmen Sílvia Fernandes Boaro: Biodiversity and Biostatistics Department, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Marcelo de Almeida Silva: Laboratory of Ecophysiology Applied to Agriculture (LECA), School of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-27

Abstract: Sugarcane plays a crucial role in global sugar and ethanol production. Conventionally, sugarcane propagation involves planting billets. However, Brazilian researchers have introduced the innovative pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS) method, widely used in the MEIOSI (Simultaneously Occurring Interrotational Method) system. Although PSS has several advantages over the conventional method, its sensitivity to water scarcity is a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the survival and growth of PSS inoculated with Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (PGPB) under different water regimes. The experiment was conducted in the field in a randomized block in strips (split-block) using a 2 × 4 factorial scheme consisting of two inoculation conditions (with and without PGPB) and four water regimes (WR) (0%, 33%, 66%, and 100% of the ideal irrigation). PGPB increased PSS survival (4.17%) and water use efficiency (185.10% under the 0% WR). In addition, inoculation increased root (12.5%, 7.7%, and 16.2% for surface area, area projection, and root volume, respectively) and shoot growth. PGPB also increased nutrient uptake, such as N (60.8% and 18.3% under 0% and 66% WR), P (on average 11.7%), Mn (27.6% and 28.7% under 66% and 100% WR), Zn (111.4% under 0% WR), and Cu accumulation (27.17%), which provided a higher number of stalks per meter and, therefore, a higher multiplication rate in the MEIOSI system. Inoculation proved to be a promising alternative for PSS establishing under water restriction.

Keywords: Saccharum spp.; biostimulants; water availability; nutrition; growth rate (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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