Previous studies have addressed the management of phyllosphere pathogens by leaf and root-associated microbes. The present study evaluated the effect of the foliar application of three strains of Bacillus spp. on plant growth and fruit quality. The application of a bacilli spore preparation significantly improved leaf growth parameters such as leaf thickness and photosynthesis capacity, indicating that bacilli treatment directly promoted leaf growth. In addition, foliar treatment resulted in an improvement in the key indicators of fruit quality including water, glucose, and sucrose contents. The present results suggest that foliar spraying of beneficial bacilli is a potential treatment of wide application for the improvement of apple quality. Foliar application of bacilli preparation as effective plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria broadens the spectrum of their availability for orchard application.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.