Effect of foliar application of Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Beijerinckia on leaf yield and quality of mulberry (Morus alba)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years (1994–96) to evaluate three nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFBs) namely Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Beijerinckia as foliar biofertilizers on mulberry (Morus spp.). Foliar application of these bacteria in their specific culture media with half of the recommended dose of N as a basal application of chemical fertilizer were compared with the recommended dose of N (300 kg/ha per year in four equal splits) but without biofertilizer. Other controls for comparison were respective culture media with half N. All the NFBs improved leaf yield over their respective controls (specific culture media). The addition of Azotobacter resulted in significantly greater yield than that given by the recommended dose of N. The Beijerinckia treatment resulted in a leaf yield equal to that from the recommended dose of N and Azospirillum reduced leaf yield in comparison to that from the recommended N treatment although the yield from Azospirillum treatment was more than that from the culture medium treatments. A combination of NFBs where Azotobacter was one of the components improved leaf yield over single NFB treatments. NFBs also resulted in improved leaf quality as indicated by their protein content and their impact on silkworm rearing and cocoon production when treated leaves were subjected to bioassay. The use of these NFBs, particularly the Azotobacter, as a foliar biofertilizer to increase mulberry leaf production has not been investigated before.

Advances in plant growth-promoting bacterial inoculant technology: formulations and practical perspectives (1998–2013)

“…Additionally, inoculants must overcome two major problems inherent to living microorganisms: (1) loss of viability during short storage in the grower's warehouse, and (2) long shelf life and stability of the product over a range of −5 to 30°C, within growers' storage conditions. Anith et al 2004;Bacilio et al 2003Bacilio et al , 2004Bashan et al 2006;Boruah and Kumar 2002;Cakmakci et al 2001Cakmakci et al , 2006Carrillo-Garcia et al 2000;Dominguez-Nuñez et al 2012;Egamberdiyeva 2007;Esitken et al 2003;Fürnkranz et al 2012;Guetsky et al 2002a, b;Guiñazú et al 2010;Hossain and Mårtensson 2008;Jetiyanon et al 2003;Khan et al 2003;Kurek and Jaroszuk-Ściseł 2002;Landa et al 2001;Lopez et al 2013;Madhaiyan et al 2010;Mehnaz et al 2010;Odee et al 2002;Ozturk et al 2003;Puente et al 2004aPuente et al , b, 2009aRajapaksha et al 2011;Singh et al 2011;Sigler et al 2001;Sudhakar et al 2000;Yan et al 2003;Yu et al 2011;Zafar et al 2012 Liquid (culture media or water) Clayton et al 2004a, b;Hamaoui et al 2001;Hungria et al 2010; Bashan et al 2002a, b;deBashan et al 2004;…”

Effect of Biofertilizers and Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria on the Growth Characteristics of the Herb Asparagus Officinalis

“…So far considerable number of bacterial species, mostly associated with the plant rhizosphere, were tested and found to be beneficial for plant growth, yield and crop quality. They have been called 'plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)' including the strains in the genera Azospirillium, Azotobacter, (Rodriguez and Fraga, 1999;Sturz and Nowak, 2000;Sudhakar., et al, 2000). PGPR participates in many key ecosystem processes, such as those involved in the biological control of plant pathogens, N fixation, solubilisation of nutrients and phytohormone synthesis (Vessey, 2003).…”

Analysis of the Peltigera membranacea metagenome indicates that lichen-associated bacteria are involved in phosphate solubilization

“…These pathways are complex and several key enzymes are involved, including alkaline and acid phosphatases, phytases and phosphonatases (Rodriguez et al, 2006;Sharma et al, 2013). A variety of bacteria are known to convert bound phosphorus to a soluble form and the genera Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, Microbacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Serratia have been reported as the most significant phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (Sturz & Nowak, 2000;Sudhakar et al, 2000). Proteobacteria, particularly Alphaproteobacteria, form the largest part of the non-phototrophic bacteria in many lichens (Cardinale et al, 2006(Cardinale et al, , 2008González et al, 2005;Grube et al, 2009;Hodkinson & Lutzoni, 2009;Liba et al, 2006;Muggia et al, 2013;Schneider et al, 2011).…”