Biofertilization with PGP Bacteria Improve Strawberry Plant Performance under Sub-Optimum Phosphorus Fertilization

Abstract

Biofertilization with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could optimize chemical fertilization for strawberry crop cultivation. A greenhouse study was arranged to assess the impact of an isolated PGPB consortium from halophytes on strawberry development, physiological traits, and nutritional balance subjected to two phosphorus fertilization limitation treatments (with and without insoluble phosphorus form application). Biofertilization had a positive effect on strawberry development. Thus, shoot and root biomass was c. 20 and 32% higher in inoculated plants grown with insoluble phosphorus. This effect was mediated by a positive bacterial impact on plant carbon absorption capacity and water use efficiency, through a reduction in CO2 diffusional and biochemical photosynthesis limitation. Thus, net photosynthetic rate and intrinsic water use efficiency showed increments of 21–56% and 14–37%, respectively. In addition, inoculation led to a better efficiency of the plant photochemical apparatus, as indicated by the invariable higher PSII photochemistry parameters. Furthermore, these effects correlated with improved nutritional balance of phosphorus and nitrogen, which was directly related to the beneficial impact on carbon metabolism and, consequently, on strawberries’ growth. In conclusion, we can recommend the biofertilization based on PGPB for achieving more efficient strawberry P fertilization management practices, providing high efficiency in yields.

Exploring through the use of physiological and isotopic techniques the potential of a PGPR-based biofertilizer to improve nitrogen fertilization practices efficiency in strawberry cultivation

“…Thus, bacterial inoculation was able to largely reverse the negative impact of nitrogen fertilization withholding on plant growth and fertility traits, as indicated by maintaining the root dry mass content (RDMC) and reproductive structure dry mass content (RSDMC) at a level similar to control treatment and to some extent ameliorated the reduction in leaf dry mass content (LDMC). Our results are also in agreement with previous results found for strawberry, where the presence of microorganisms with PGP properties counterbalanced to some extent the detrimental effects of stressful environmental factors, such as soil salinization, high temperature, and phosphorus deficit, on plant development ( Redondo-Gómez et al., 2021 ; Redondo-Gómez et al., 2022 ; Valle-Romero et al., 2023 ).…”

“…The bacterial inoculum used in this study was composed by five self-compatible bacterial strains with high multi-stress resistance and a variety of complementary plant growth-promoting properties (PGP), characterized and used in several of our previous studies ( Andrades-Moreno et al., 2014 ; Mesa et al., 2015 ; Mesa-Marín et al., 2020 ; Redondo-Gómez et al., 2022 ; Valle-Romero et al., 2023 ; see Table 1 for details of PGP properties). For the technical details of inoculum preparation see Navarro-Torre et al.…”

“…In this way, some beneficial bacteria, collectively known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), have a positive impact on plants by contributing to the growth of the root system or by strengthening plant tolerance to a number of environmental stresses, including nutritional-induced stress ( Glick, 2012 ). These positive effects are mediated through different direct positive impacts of bacterial properties ( Adesemoye et al., 2009 ), such as atmospheric nitrogen fixation, siderophores production with improved iron uptake, phosphorous solubilization, and biofilm formation, which improves bacterial adhesion to root tissue, facilitating plant nutrient uptake ( Glick, 2012 ; Spolaor et al., 2016 ; Valle-Romero et al., 2023 ). Furthermore, other bacterial properties such as auxin production play a prominent role in root development and therefore in improving plant capacity to explore soil volume and absorb nutrients ( Remans et al., 2008 ; Ljung, 2013 ).…”

Improving Grapevine Heat Stress Resilience with Marine Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Consortia

“…Salt marshes are unique ecosystems that are exposed to high salinity and fluctuations in water levels, making them a potential source of PGPR with stress tolerance properties [24]. The bioaugmentation of plants with these marine PGPR has been shown to aid the plants in resisting and overcoming several abiotic challenges from nutrient deprivation [25] and osmotic stress [26,27], including thermal and extreme stress [28,29]. Moreover, a single strain microorganism usage does not allow the activation of all possible growth-promoting mechanisms; thus, in order to elicit all potential traits, the application of PGPR consortia is increasingly more common in agricultural practices and is of current interest in research [28,30].…”

Probing the potential of salinity-tolerant endophytic bacteria to improve the growth of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

“…Biofertilizers are environment-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizers contain PGPB, which can be applied to the soil or seed surfaces to promote plant growth by improving nutrient availability to plants and controlling phytopathogens ( Agri et al, 2022 ; Valle-Romero et al, 2023 ). Biofertilizers are host specific, so the nutrients provided by them are less prone to leaching and volatilization, making them ideal for sustainable agriculture ( Bhardwaj et al, 2014 ; Simarmata et al, 2016 ; Imran et al, 2021 ).…”