Abstract
Microbial inoculants containing plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are low-cost tools to improve crop yield. The prospection of new strains should enable the selection of efficient microbial agents for commercial inoculants. This study aimed to isolate and select PGPB for maize in the Brazilian semiarid region. A field trial using two maize genotypes was implemented, and bacteria were isolated from maize stems and roots. The bacteria were grown in semi-solid BMGM or solid Dyg’s media, and they were characterized in vitro with respect to five plant growth-promoting mechanisms. Twenty-seven strains were assessed for growth promotion using potted maize plants. Nine bacterial strains improved plant biomass and/or N accumulation in shoots and were selected for field assessment and identification by 16S rRNA sequencing. Fourteen and 65 bacterial strains were isolated, respectively, in the semi-solid and solid medium. Auxin production without L-Tryptophan and antagonism against F. verticillioides were found for bacteria isolated on solid medium, and other characteristics were found for the strains from semi-solid medium. These strains were classified as Bacillus (5), Brevibacillus (2), Staphylococcus (1), and Paenibacillus (1). Five strains (Bacillus spp. ESA 593, ESA 597, ESA 599, ESA 600, and Paenibacillus sp. ESA 601) improved maize yield (56–87%) compared with the non-inoculated and non-fertilizated (N) control. In conclusion, the Brazilian drylands maize plants harbor several potential PGPB, and five elite strains were retrieved in the present study. These strains will be used for future network field assays to assure their agronomic performance.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq 485168/2013–8), INCT—Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility (CNPq/Fundação Araucária STI/CAPES INCT-MPCPAgro 465133/2014-4) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa 23.13.08.003.00.00) for financial support. We also thank the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for awarding scholarships to the first four authors (Code 001). The sixth and last authors are research fellows of CNPq.
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Nascimento, R.d., Cavalcanti, M.I.P., Correia, A.d. et al. Maize-associated bacteria from the Brazilian semiarid region boost plant growth and grain yield. Symbiosis 83, 347–359 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-021-00755-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-021-00755-7