Abstract
Current agriculture is based on external fertilizers that jeopardize soil fertility. Alternative fertilization systems might come from the use of soil-borne bacteria with plant growth enhancing ability. Here, six bacterial strains that produce varying concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA) were tested individually and in consortia for plant growth promotion and fitness-related traits of Cicer arietinum. The nitrogen fixer Mesorhizobium ciceri consistently increased biomass production and N content. In the absence of this strain, IAA Psedomonas putida and Bacillus megaterium hindered plant growth and fitness-related traits. The application of mixes of the three strains always resulted in better plant performance when M. ciceri was present. Mixes that included a P. putida strain that produced low levels of IAA appeared more likely to promote plant growth than mixes that included P. putida strains that produced high levels of IAA or mixes that included B. megaterium. The low levels of IAA produced by the selected strains, compared to the high IAA-producing strains had a significantly greater positive effect on plant biomass accumulation, flower, pod, and seed production, and total plant nitrogen and nitrogen concentrations in seeds.
Highlights
Cicer arietinum L., commonly known as chickpeas, is one of the most important legume crops worldwide and represents an important source of protein for humans and fodder for livestock in temperate and semiarid climates [1,2]
The present study investigates the effects of six strains of Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus megaterium, and Mesorhizobium ciceri alone and in combination, on plant performance of Cicer arietinum
indole acetic acid (IAA) production was detected by the Salkowsky reaction [18]; ACC deaminase activity was qualitatively tested in peptone-protease water with hydrolyzed casein, anhydrous glycerol, using aminocyclopropano-1-carboxilic acid as the only source of N [19]; siderophores were assayed on the Chrome azurol S agar medium [20]
Summary
Cicer arietinum L., commonly known as chickpeas, is one of the most important legume crops worldwide and represents an important source of protein for humans and fodder for livestock in temperate and semiarid climates [1,2]. It is in these semiarid areas where chickpea’s production is jeopardized due to impoverished soils and hindered geochemical cycles, due to the high temperature and low rainfall. Overcoming the lack of fertilization without soil pollution implies exploring alternative routes of nutrient use and input, possible through biological rhizosphere processes
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