Effects of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on yield, growth and nutrient contents of organically grown strawberry

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 124; no. 1; pp. 62 - 66
• Main Authors: Esitken, Ahmet, Yildiz, Hilal E., Ercisli, Sezai, Figen Donmez, M., Turan, Metin, Gunes, Adem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 26-02-2010; [Amsterdam; New York, NY]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agricultural and farming systems; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Bacillus; Bacillus (bacteria); Biological and medical sciences; chemical constituents of plants; crop production; crop yield; foliar application; food composition; Fragaria ananassa; Fragaria × ananassa; fruiting; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; growth promotion; leaves; organic production; phosphorus; plant growth; Pseudomonas; quantitative analysis; Root inoculation; roots; Spraying; strawberries; symbiosis; zinc; Fragaria × ananassa; Pseudomonas; Spraying; Bacillus; Root inoculation; Pseudomonadales; Horticulture; Small fruits; Growth; Rosaceae; Fragaria ananassa; Bacillaceae; Inoculation; Bacillales; Dicotyledones; Strawberry; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Pseudomonadaceae; Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria; Root; Organic agriculture; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Yield
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2009.12.012

The effects of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on the fruit yield, growth and nutrient element content of strawberry cv. Fern were investigated under organic growing conditions between 2006 and 2008. The experimental plot was a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Three PGPB strains (
Pseudomonas BA-8,
Bacillus OSU-142 and
Bacillus M-3) were used alone or in combination as bio-fertilizer agent in the experiment. Data through 3 years showed that the use of PGPB significantly increased fruit yield, plant growth and leaf P and Zn contents. Root inoculation of M3 and floral and foliar spraying of OSU-142 and BA-8 bacteria stimulated plant growth resulting in significant yield increases. M3
+
BA-8, BA-8
+
OSU-142, M3, M3
+
OSU-142 and BA-8 applications increased cumulative yield by 33.2%, 18.4%, 18.2%, 15.3% and 10.5%, respectively. Number of fruits per plant significantly increased by the applications of M3
+
BA-8 (91.73) and M3 (81.58) compared with the control (68.66). In addition, P and Zn contents of strawberry leaves with bacterial inoculation significantly increased under organic growing conditions. Available P contents in soil were increased from 0.35
kg
P
2O
5/da at the beginning of the study to 2.00, 1.97 and 1.82
kg
P
2O
5/da by M3
+
OSU-142, M3
+
BA-8 and M3
+
BA-8
+
OSU-142 applications, respectively. Overall, the results of this study suggest that root inoculation of
Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with spraying
Bacillus OSU-142 or
Pseudomonas BA-8 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition content of strawberry plant under organic growing conditions.