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Maximizing growth and productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) by Spirulina platensis extract and nitrogen-fixing endophyte Pseudomonas stutzeri

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Abstract

The study focuses on the impact of foliar spraying cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis extract and the inoculation with the endophyte N2-fixing Pseudomonas stutzeri, and their mixture in the presence of different nitrogen doses on growth and yield of onion under field conditions. Bioactive compounds of Spirulina and Pseudomonas were analyzed by GC–MC and amino acid production of Spirulina by the amino acid analyzer. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia (NH3), pectinase activity, and N2-fixation of Pseudomonas were measured. Plant height (cm), leaf length (cm), number of green leaves, bulb diameter (cm), fresh and dry weight of plant (g), chlorophyll a, b of leaves, bulb weight (g), marketable bulb yield (t. ha−1), cull bulb weight (t. ha−1), total bulb yield (t. ha−1), bulb diameter (cm), total soluble solids (TSS%), dry matter content (DM%), evaluation of storage behavior, and economic feasibility were estimated. Spirulina extract has several bioactive compounds. Pseudomonas can produce HCN, NH3, IAA, pectinase, and nitrogen fixation. The application of mixture with recommended dose of nitrogen increases the onion plant parameters, marketable yield, total bulb yield, bulb weight, bulb diameter, TSS%, DM%, net return, benefit–cost ratio (B:C), lowest cumulative weight loss% of bulbs during storage, and reduce culls weight compared with other treatments in two seasons. Application of S. platensis extract and inoculation with endophyte nitrogen-fixing P. stutzeri enhance the growth and productivity of the onion under different doses of nitrogen fertilizer.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are extended to all staff members in the Cyanobacteria Research Lab., Microbiology Research Dept., Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute-Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafrelsheikh, Giza, Egypt, especially My Prof. Dr. Youssef Garas Yanni, for supporting me with his knowledge and experience and Onion Res. Dept., Field Crops Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.

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  1. Onion Res. Dept., Field Crops Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt

    L. S. M. Geries

  2. Cyanobacteria Lab., Microbiology Dept., Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt

    Abdelgawad Y. Elsadany

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Geries, L.S.M., Elsadany, A.Y. Maximizing growth and productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) by Spirulina platensis extract and nitrogen-fixing endophyte Pseudomonas stutzeri. Arch Microbiol 203, 169–181 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-020-01991-z

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