Efficiency of Combining Strains Ag87 as Phosphate Solubilizers and Growth Promoters in Maize

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 7
• Main Authors: Massucato, Luana Rainieri, Almeida, Suelen Regina de Araújo, Silva, Mayara Barbosa, Mosela, Mirela, Zeffa, Douglas Mariani, Nogueira, Alison Fernando, de Lima Filho, Renato Barros, Mian, Silas, Higashi, Allan Yukio, Teixeira, Gustavo Manoel, Shimizu, Gabriel Danilo, Giacomin, Renata Mussoi, Fendrich, Ricardo Cancio, Faria, Marcos Ventura, Scapim, Carlos Alberto, Gonçalves, Leandro Simões Azeredo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 12.07.2022
• Subjects: Agricultural research; Bacillus (Bacteria); Chemical properties; Corn; Crop yields; Growth; Organic fertilizers; Phosphorus; Brazil
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071401

Increasing phosphorus (P) use efficiency in agricultural systems is urgent and essential to significantly reduce the global demand for this nutrient. Applying phosphate-solubilizing and plant growth-promoting bacteria in the rhizosphere represents a strategy worthy of attention. In this context, the present work aimed to select and validate bacterial strains capable of solubilizing phosphorous and promoting maize growth, aiming to develop a microbial inoculant to be used in Brazilian agriculture. Bacterial strains from the maize rhizosphere were evaluated based on their ability to solubilize phosphate and produce indole acetic acid. Based on these characteristics, 24 strains were selected to be further evaluated under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Among the selected strains, four (I04, I12, I13, and I17) showed a high potential to increase maize root growth and shoot P content. Strains I13 (Ag87) and I17 (Ag94) were identified by genomic sequencing as Bacillus megaterium and Lysinibacillus sp., respectively. These strains presented superior yield increments relative to the control treatment with 30% P. In addition, combining Ag87 and Ag94 resulted in even higher yield gains, indicating a synergistic effect that could be harnessed in a commercial inoculant for Brazilian agriculture.