Inoculant Formulation for Bradyrhizobium spp.: Optimizing CMC/Starch Blends for Improved Performance

Jaqueline Carvalho de Almeida, Vinício Oliosi Favero, Janaina Ribeiro Costa Rouws, Carla de Sant’Anna Freitas, Érica Barbosa de Sousa, Jéssica Feitoza da Rocha, Nainicelle Cibelle Sousa Chantre, Gustavo Ribeiro Xavier, Paulo Jansen de Oliveira () and Norma Gouvêa Rumjanek ()
Additional contact information
Jaqueline Carvalho de Almeida: Biological Resource Center, CRB, Embrapa Agrobiology, Seropedica 23897-970, RJ, Brazil
Vinício Oliosi Favero: Capixaba Institute for Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension, INCAPER, Saint Gabriel of Straw 29780-000, ES, Brazil
Janaina Ribeiro Costa Rouws: Embrapa Agrobiology, Seropedica 23897-970, RJ, Brazil
Carla de Sant’Anna Freitas: OCP Brasil, Sao Paulo 04543-011, SP, Brazil
Érica Barbosa de Sousa: Institute of Chemistry, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRRJ, Seropedica 23897-000, RJ, Brazil
Jéssica Feitoza da Rocha: Abbott Laboratories, Rio de Janeiro 22710-907, RJ, Brazil
Nainicelle Cibelle Sousa Chantre: Ministry of Education of Cape Verde, Beach, Praia 7600, Cape Verde
Gustavo Ribeiro Xavier: Embrapa Agrobiology, Seropedica 23897-970, RJ, Brazil
Paulo Jansen de Oliveira: Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRRJ, Seropedica 23897-000, RJ, Brazil
Norma Gouvêa Rumjanek: Embrapa Agrobiology, Seropedica 23897-970, RJ, Brazil

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Inoculating legumes with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium , can significantly reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. To optimize this process, a suitable rhizobial strain must be carefully selected and formulated. This study aimed to develop a biopolymer blend formulation for Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi strain BR 3262. From four commercial starches and two carboxymethylcelluloses (CMC), we developed CMC/starch blends compatibilized or not with MgO at concentrations from 0.1% to 1.0% and subjected them to autoclaving for either 30 or 60 min. The resulting inoculants were stored for 168 days. Generally, blends compatibilized with 1.0% MgO exhibited a significant decrease in cell numbers, likely due to the observed pH values of approximately 10. The best performance was observed for CMC-I/starch B blends autoclaved for 60 min, and CMC-II/starch C blends autoclaved for 30 min, both compatibilized with 0.3% MgO. These blends maintained a cell viability of 10 8 CFU mL −1 for approximately 130 days at room temperature. Blend optimization depends on the selection of specific interactions and quantities of each component in order to achieve a given functionality; in the conditions of this study, the capacity to maintain Bradyrhizobium cell viability for at least four months.

Keywords: biological nitrogen fixation; polymeric mixture carrier; biofertilizer (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: 2025
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