Yield increase of corn inoculated with Pseudomonas thivervalensis strain SC5 in Brazil

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated the ability of isolate Pseudomonas thivervalensis SC5 to express the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC), which regulates ethylene levels, one of the most important phytohormones in the regulation of plant growth and development. Thus, the present study evaluated the agronomic efficiency of a biological conditioner based on P. thivervalensis SC5 in the growth and productivity increases of corn in Brazil. It was found that corn was highly responsive to the inoculation of P. thivervalensis SC5, with increments ranging from 10.1 to 40.6% in the production of dry shoot biomass (DSB) compared to the control, while for grain yield the increments ranged from 9.0 to 27.8%. The increments are related to the levels and accumulations of N and P in the shoots of the plants. This suggested the participation of P. thivervalensis SC5 in mechanisms of soil modulation and nutrient acquisition. The inoculation of P. thivervalensis SC5 provided average increments in FDA hydrolysis ranging from 16.7 to 47.4% compared to the control, confirming the ability of this strain to increase the supply of nutrients to plants. Therefore, it is concluded that Pseudomonas thivervalensis SC5 participates in key mechanisms in the soil-plant system, with a consequent improvement in soil quality and other plant-related parameters.