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Application Frequency and Colonization of the Rhizosphere of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne) Plants by Azospirillum Brasilense

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Abstract

The use of growth-promoting bacteria in agriculture has been highlighted for its potential to improve crop yield, facilitate plant growth, and increase stress tolerance. The use of inoculants based on Azospirillum brasilense may become an alternative to the application of agricultural inputs for being able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, and produce phytohormones, besides its potential to reduce the use of fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different frequencies of Azospirillum brasilense application via soil on strawberry cultivation, measuring phytotechnical, physiological, nutritional, and anatomical characteristics. Strawberry cv. Pircinque seedlings from in vitro cultivation were acclimatized, transplanted into pots, and maintained in a greenhouse. Five treatments were used, consisting of (T1) single inoculation; (T2) inoculation every 15 days; (T3) inoculation every 30 days; (T4) control with complete nutrient solution without inoculation; and (T5) control with reduced nutrient solution without inoculation. The nutrient solution was applied every 15 days in the controls. Plants with biweekly inoculations were superior to the controls and other treatments in terms of phytotechnical and physiological characteristics, and also resulted in higher densities of total bacteria, measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The treatment with a single application of the inoculant resulted in significant increases in root length and dry biomass. Therefore, inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense demonstrates promising results in terms of reducing fertilizer demand and eliciting a positive response to inoculation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Brasil (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras, MG, 37200-900, Brazil

    Altino Junior Mendes de Oliveira, Vytória Piscitelli Cavalcanti, Filipe Almendagna Rodrigues, Moacir Pasqual & Joyce Dória

  2. Departament of Microbiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Vera Lucia dos Santos & Aline Daniela Lopes Julio

  3. Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras, MG, 37200-900, Brazil

    Yulimar Castro Molina

  4. Biology Department, University of the Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela

    Yulimar Castro Molina

  5. Division of Biology, School of the Sciences, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, 76209, USA

    Adalvan Daniel Martins

  6. Department of Agriculture, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luís de Camões, 2090 - Conta Dinheiro, Lages, SC, 88520-000, Brazil

    Léo Fufato

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  1. Altino Junior Mendes de Oliveira
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Writing the research project, carrying out the analysis and interpretation of the results, and preparing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Joyce Dória.

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de Oliveira, A.J.M., Cavalcanti, V.P., Rodrigues, F.A. et al. Application Frequency and Colonization of the Rhizosphere of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne) Plants by Azospirillum Brasilense. J Plant Growth Regul 43, 986–997 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-023-11154-1

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