scholarly journals Evaluating the Growth-promoting Effects of Microbial Biostimulants on Greenhouse Floriculture Crops

HortScience ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-109
Author(s):  
Yiyun Lin ◽  
Michelle L. Jones

Microbial biostimulants can promote ornamental plant growth during production and improve crop performance under abiotic stresses. Even though biostimulants have shown potential in many agricultural applications, the effectiveness and specificity of many products are not well understood. The objective of this study was to analyze the growth-promoting effects of microbial biostimulants during the greenhouse production of floriculture crops. We evaluated 13 biostimulant products in greenhouse-grown zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Magellan Ivory’) and petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Carpet White’) at low fertility (one-third of the optimal fertilizer concentration). Biostimulant products 1 and 2 containing multiple species of beneficial bacteria and fungi, and product 10 containing Bacillus subtilis QST 713, were found to increase various aspects of plant growth, including the growth index, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD index), and shoot biomass. Both flower biomass and numbers were greater in petunia treated with product 1, and leaf size increased in zinnia treated with products 1, 2, and 10. Plants treated with these effective biostimulants at low fertility had similar or better growth and quality than untreated plants grown under optimal fertility. The concentration of various nutrient elements in leaves was higher in zinnia plants treated with biostimulant products 1, 2, or 10 compared with the negative control. Some putative mechanisms for biostimulant effectiveness, the possible reasons for biostimulant ineffectiveness, and the potential for using biostimulants as a sustainable cultural strategy are discussed. This study provides useful information about microbial biostimulant effectiveness, which is important for the development and utilization of biostimulants in the greenhouse production of floriculture plants.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5162
Author(s):  
Leangsrun Chea ◽  
Birgit Pfeiffer ◽  
Dominik Schneider ◽  
Rolf Daniel ◽  
Elke Pawelzik ◽  
...  

Low phosphorus (P) availability is a major limiting factor for potatoes. P fertilizer is applied to enhance P availability; however, it may become toxic when plants accumulate at high concentrations. Therefore, it is necessary to gain more knowledge of the morphological and biochemical processes associated with P deficiency and toxicity for potatoes, as well as to explore an alternative approach to ameliorate the P deficiency condition. A comprehensive study was conducted (I) to assess plant morphology, mineral allocation, and metabolites of potatoes in response to P deficiency and toxicity; and (II) to evaluate the potency of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in improving plant biomass, P uptake, and metabolites at low P levels. The results revealed a reduction in plant height and biomass 60–80% under P deficiency compared to P optimum. P deficiency and toxicity conditions also altered the mineral concentration and allocation in plants due to nutrient imbalance. The stress induced by both P deficiency and toxicity was evident from an accumulation of proline and total free amino acids in young leaves and roots. Furthermore, root metabolite profiling revealed that P deficiency reduced sugars by 50–80% and organic acids by 20–90%, but increased amino acids by 1.5–14.8 times. However, the effect of P toxicity on metabolic changes in roots was less pronounced. Under P deficiency, PGPR significantly improved the root and shoot biomass, total root length, and root surface area by 32–45%. This finding suggests the potency of PGPR inoculation to increase potato plant tolerance under P deficiency.


Author(s):  
Haresh S. Kalasariya ◽  
Nikunj B. Patel ◽  
Ankita Jain ◽  
Nayan D. Prajapati ◽  
Richa N. Patel

The modern agricultural sector is mainly dependent on synthetic fertilizer for enhancing the growth of crop improvements but a burden of inorganic and chemical-based fertilizer currently created a serious threat to human health as well as the soil environment. Fertilizer research is therefore focusing on an alternative to chemical fertilizer by exploiting natural sources such as marine macroalgae or seaweed. The use of seaweed will be an eco-friendlier approach to sustainable agriculture. Marine macroalgae or seaweed widely applicable in plant growth enhancements due to the presence of biological active phycocompounds such as proteins, phenolic compounds, amino acids, polysaccharides, plant-growth-promoting hormones, and some growth factors, etc. Several research studies have been carried out on the applicability of seaweed or the effect of marine algae or its components on plants and its quality. These types of constituents play their role in improving the morphological as well as biochemical characteristics of plants. The present review study focuses on the applicability of marine macroalgae as a biofertilizer or plant growth stimulator in agricultural applications. This study further helps to improve the nutritional quality of crops which prove to be useful in further investigations and applications. KEYWORDS: Seaweed, Marine Macroalgae, Biofertilizer, Growth stimulator, Agriculture


2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Hummel ◽  
S. Kuo ◽  
D. Winters ◽  
E.J. Jellum

Abstract Utilization of fish waste for producing fishwaste compost (FWC) as a value-added product is preferred to disposing of it in ocean dumping or landfills. This study determined: (i) the effectiveness of FWC as a container-growth medium and N source for greenhouse production of marigolds (Tagetes patula L. ‘Queen Sophia’) and geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum L.H. Bailey ‘Sprinter Scarlet’) that were drip-irrigated to prevent leaching; and (ii) if leaching was necessary to sustain plant growth. In a 3 by 3 factorial experiment, plants were grown in 100% FWC, 50% FWC:50% Douglas-fir bark (B), and 100% B at 0, 160, and 320 mg (0, 0.0056, 0.0112 oz) N container−1 applied as NH4NO3 every 2 weeks. Under drip irrigation, FWC in the 100% FWC growing medium supplied a sufficient amount of available N up to 7 weeks after transplanting to produce plant quality, shoot growth index (SGI), and shoot and root dry weights comparable to those treated with 320 mg N container−1. In the 50% FWC: 50% B growing medium fertilization with 320 mg N improved plant growth and quality 7 weeks after transplanting. The concentration of inorganic N (NO3 plus NH4) in the 100% FWC declined to very low levels 7 weeks after transplanting. This indicated that FWC used as the sole component of the growing medium was an effective N source for marigolds and geraniums up to 7 weeks after transplant. Compared with no leach plants, irrigation of 100% FWC marigolds with a weekly leaching fraction of about 0.55 did not affect quality, SGI, and shoot dry weight at the time-of-sale, 7 weeks after transplant. The FWC did not have sufficiently high salt content to require minimum leaching to prevent salt injury to the plants.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
Dasun Premachandra ◽  
Lee Hudek ◽  
Aydin Enez ◽  
Ross Ballard ◽  
Steve Barnett ◽  
...  

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is the third largest crop produced in Australia after wheat and barley. For such crops, the variability of water access, reduced long-term annual rainfall and increasing water prices, higher overall production costs, and variability in production quantity and quality are driving the exploration of new tools to maintain production in an economical and environmentally sustainable way. Microorganisms associated with the rhizosphere have been shown to enhance plant growth and offer a potential way to maintain or even increase crop production quality and yield in an environmentally sustainable way. Here, seven bacterial isolates from canola rhizosphere samples are shown to enhance canola growth, particularly in low water activity systems. The seven strains all possessed commonly described plant growth promoting traits, including the ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, and the capacity to solubilise nutrients (Fe2+/3+ and PO43−). When the isolates were inoculated at the time of sowing in pot-based systems with either sand or clay loam media, and in field trials, a significant increase in dry root and shoot biomass was recorded compared to uninoculated controls. It is likely that the strains’ plant growth promoting capacity under water stress is due to the combined effects of the bacterial phenotypes examined here.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Flax ◽  
Christopher J. Currey ◽  
James A. Schrader ◽  
David Grewell ◽  
William R. Graves

We evaluated the effects of seven types of 4.5-inch top-diameter biocontainers and five rates of paclobutrazol drench on the growth and development of angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia ‘Serena White’) and petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Wave® Purple Improved Prostrate’) during greenhouse production. The container types included were biopolyurethane-coated paper fiber; uncoated paper fiber; rice hull; coconut coir; peat; two types of bioplastic container, one made from 90% polylactic acid (PLA) and 10% lignin [PLA-lignin (90/10 by weight)] and another made from 60% PLA and 40% soy polymer with adipic anhydride {SP.A [PLA-SP.A]; (60/40 by weight)}; and a petroleum-based plastic control. All containers were filled with 590 mL of substrate composed of (by vol) 75% canadian sphagnum moss and 25% perlite. Ten days after transplanting seedlings, 2-fl oz aliquots of deionized water containing 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg·L−1 paclobutrazol were applied to the substrate surface as drenches. The date of anthesis was recorded for each plant, and growth data were collected 6 weeks after transplant. Shoots were harvested and dried and shoot dry weight (SDW) was recorded. Height (angelonia only) and diameter of angelonia and petunia and time to flower were calculated. Container type and paclobutrazol concentration interacted to affect size and SDW of angelonia and petunia. Growth index of angelonia treated with 0 mg·L−1 paclobutrazol and grown in coir and peat containers was 19% to 29% and 29% to 38% smaller than that of plants in other container types, respectively. Diameter of untreated petunia grown in peat containers was similar to that of those grown in coir and uncoated paper fiber containers, but was smaller (10.9 to 13.5 cm) than that of plants grown in other container types. As paclobutrazol concentrations increased from 0 to 20 mg·L−1 treatments, SDWs of petunia grown in coir containers were suppressed by 23%, whereas plants grown in rice hull containers were up to 45% less. Our results indicate that growth suppression of angelonia and petunia grown in biocontainers using paclobutrazol drenches varies by the type of biocontainer. Producers should reduce paclobutrazol drench concentrations to produce plants of appropriate size if substituting coir or peat biocontainers for traditional petroleum plastics, whereas no adjustment in plant growth retardant (PGR) drench concentrations is required for plants produced in the other biocontainer types we evaluated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 104-110
Author(s):  
Di Barbaro Gabriela ◽  
Andrada Horacio ◽  
Batallan Morales Silvana ◽  
Espeche Acosta Eliana ◽  
Rizo Melisa ◽  
...  

To determine the effect of Azospirillum brasilense and soil mycorrhizal fungi on the nutrition of the Jerusalem artichoke crop (Helianthus tuberosus L.), evaluations of agronomic parameters and the health status of the plants were carried out, under greenhouse conditions. The tests were carried out, at the moment of the implantation of the culture: the tubers were inoculated with A. brasilense and with native mycorrhizal fungi, generating four treatments including the control and the co-inoculation of the consortium of the microorganisms under study (T0: control or control without inoculation; T1: inoculation with native A. brasilense; T2: inoculation with native mycorrhizal fungi and T3: joint inoculation with A. brasilense and native mycorrhizal fungi. The results indicate that co-inoculation with A. brasilense and with native mycorrhizal fungi increased plant growth in height, leaf area, biomass, dry matter, and yields significantly in greenhouse production. It was determined that the application of the selected microorganisms has a plant growth-promoting effect, increasing the productivity of cultivated topinambur in the greenhouse


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 31-45
Author(s):  
Mahendra Rai ◽  
Aniket Gade ◽  
Beata Zimowska ◽  
Avinash P. Ingle ◽  
Pramod Ingle

Endophytes are those inhabiting in plants without causing any apparent loss to the host plant. Phoma is a ubiquitously found genus of fungi in soil, water and air. Endophytic Phoma spp. are distributed with high specific diversity, those occur in plants and are mainly responsible for the production of a vast range of secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites or the bioactive compounds have demonstrated a wide range of activity ranging from antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, algicidal, cytotoxic, antitubercular and plant growth promoting, etc. Bioactive compounds are produced by Phoma herbarum, P. sorghina, P. exigua, P. macrostoma, P. medicaginis, P. betae, P. tropica and others. The present review emphasizes on different species of endophytic Phoma as novel source of bioactive compounds, and their applications in medicine and agriculture are documented.


1998 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 980-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Bent ◽  
Christopher P Chanway

To test the hypothesis that rhizobacteria naturally present in soils may interfere with the extent of root colonization and plant growth promotion by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), we studied two lodgepole pine PGPR (Bacillus polymyxa strains L6 and Pw-2) when inoculated singly and when coinoculated with a non-PGPR competitor (Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens PF322). Bacillus polymyxa Pw-2 and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens PF322 were consistently found as endophytes, while Bacillus polymyxa L6 was never found within the root interior. Strains Pw-2 and L6 differed in the rate and type of growth promotion. Strain Pw-2 increased root growth (branching and elongation) and shoot biomass accumulation 6 and 9 weeks, respectively, after inoculation, while strain L6 increased primary root elongation and root biomass accumulation after 12 weeks. Seedlings coinoculated with Pw-2 and PF322 had decreased shoot biomass and primary root lengths when compared with seedlings inoculated only with Pw-2. This effect was not linked to a decrease in the population size of Pw-2 in the rhizosphere or in the root interior of coinoculated treatments. In contrast, strain L6-mediated growth promotion was not impaired by coinoculation with PF322. Strain L6 did interfere to some degree with the growth-promoting capability of strain Pw-2. These results indicate that endophytic PGPR may be less adapted to microbial competition than external root-colonizing PGPR, and that the efficacy of endophytic PGPR may be reduced by the presence of other bacteria on external or internal root tissues.Key words: PGPR, endophytes, colonization, coinoculation, competition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 644-651
Author(s):  
S. Vaish ◽  
◽  
N. Garg ◽  
I.Z. Ahmad ◽  
◽  
...  

Aim: To study the role of microorganisms behind their bioenhancing, biocontrol properties, their enzymatic potential, and characterization of high performing microbial isolates on molecular basis. Methodology: Dominant culturable microbes including bacteria and fungi were isolated from biodynamic preparations and screened on the basis of plant-growth promoting (PGP) activities viz., ammonia production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, hydrogen cyanide production, seed germination efficacy and biocontrol properties. The dominant and effective microorganisms were screened for enzymes activities viz., pectinase, cellulase and amylase. The selected bacterial and fungal isolates, exhibiting higher enzyme activities, were subjected to molecular characterization. Results: Out of 68 bacterial and 25 fungal isolates from 8 biodynamic preparations (BD 500 - BD 507), 15 bacterial isolates exhibited high plant growth promoting activities while 10 bacterial isolates exhibited biocontrol activity against pathogens. Bacillus licheniformis isolated from BD 504, expressed high pectinase (2.595 U ml-1 min-1), cellulase (0.308 U ml-1 min-1) and amylase (0.418 U ml-1 min-1) activities. Fungal isolates with high enzymatic activities, were isolated from BD 500, 503 and 506, respectively. Interpretation: Microorganism isolates from biodynamic preparations possessed strong plant growth promoting, biocontrol and enzymatic properties, which might be responsible for the efficacy of organic preparations under field conditions.


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