Agronomic performance of okra under the effect of seed microbiolization with rhizobacteria

Abstract

ABSTRACT Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria are an alternative to increase the productivity, adding value to the productive system of crops like okra. We aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of okra genotypes after seed microbiolization with nine strains of rhizobacteria. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2x10 factorial scheme, using two okra genotypes, cultivar Santa Cruz 47 and hybrid Dardo, nine strains of rhizobacteria, LEBM 103, 105, 109, 112, 118, 134, 135, 152 and 154 and one control (without microbiolization), with four replications. We analyzed number of fruits per plant (NFP), average diameter of fruits (DM), productivity (PDT); fresh mass of fruits per plant (MFFP) and average mass of fruit (MMF). The rhizobacteria strains LEBM 109, 112, 152 and 154 provided the highest values for MFFP (1202.7; 1086.5; 1158.2 and 1175.9 g, respectively) PDT (24.1; 21.7; 23.2 and 23.5 t/ha, respectively) and NFP (78.0; 69.4; 73.27 and 76.5, respectively) in relation to the other strains and the non-use of seed microbiolization of hybrid Dardo. For cultivar Santa Cruz 47, the rhizobacteria LEBM 105, 112 and 152 provided the highest values for MFFP (896.7; 769.0 and 762.2 g, respectively). Evaluating genotypes when using each rhizobacteria, for MFFP and PDT, only for LEBM 105, no difference among genotypes was noticed, so, we concluded that okra seed microbiolization with rhizobacteria may provide productivity gain with possibility to become a feasible technique. The rhizobacteria which are the most recommended for growing hybrid Dardo are LEBM 109, 112, 152 and 154, whereas for growing cultivar Santa Cruz 47 are LEBM 105, 112 and 152.