Evaluation of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Strains on Growth, Yield and Quality of Industrial Tomato

Abstract

Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are used as biostimulants to improve the growth and yield as well as the quality of crops. In the present study, nine strains of PGPB and one solid mix consisting of two of them were evaluated on the cultivation of industrial tomato under specific soil and climatic conditions. The results showed that Bacillus licheniformis treatment increased dry weight of the tomato plants by 39%, and the photosynthetic rate was increased by Priestia megaterium 9.9%. The application of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Priestia megaterium, and Bacillus licheniformis increased mean fruit weight per plant 26.78–30.70% compared to that of control. Yield per plant was increased 51.94% with the use of Bacillus licheniformis compared to that of control. The quality of the fruits in nearly every bacteria strain was improved. Bacillus pumilus and the mix of Priestia megaterium and Azotobacter chroococcum (1:1) increased the most total soluble solids in the tomato fruits (4.70o Brix), and Priestia megaterium increased content in lycopene and total carotenoids by 52.8% and 25%, respectively; Bacillus pseudomycoides increased Pectin methylesterase (PME) activity (24.94 units/mL), and Bacillus mojavensis, along with the mix of Priestia megaterium and Azotobacter chroococcum, increased Poligalacturonase (PG) activity the most (30.09 and 32.53 units/mL, respectively). Most of the bacteria strains presented an increased antioxidant activity significantly better that that of the control up to 31.25%. The results of this study confirmed that the use of PGPB as biostimulants can improve the yield and the quality of industrial tomato.

Application of PGPB Combined with Variable N Doses Affects Growth, Yield-Related Traits, N-Fertilizer Efficiency and Nutritional Status of Lettuce Grown under Controlled Condition

“…These findings agree with those of Ordookhani and Zare [46] who, investigating on the influence of PGPMs on intrinsic fruit quality parameters in tomato, found a positive effect of the microorganism on fruit SSC. Our data are also in line with those of Katsenios et al [47], who studied the impact of different PGPB strains on growth, yield and quality of industrial tomato. Generally, our results underlined that SSC parameter is interactively modulated by PGPB application and nitrogen dose.…”

Assessment of plant growth promoting bacteria strains on growth, yield and quality of sweet corn

“…In case of texture, size and sphericity of maize our results are in agreement with Efthimiadou et al 1 that reported no significant differences between texture as well as size and sphericity of maize treated by Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megatherium and their mixes, respectively. In 2021, Katsenios et al 31 used these bacteria strains to evaluate their effect in the growth, yield and quality characteristics of tomato plants. The results presented in this study showed that the same strains of PGPB affect those two crops differently, however, is seems that some strains like Bacillus subtilis Z3 and Priesta megaterium B004 have a positive effect in plants growth and yield.…”

“…All these bacteria were isolated by the streaking method. Bacterial identification was conducted by sequencing 16 rDNA by the process described by Katsenios et al 31 . All cultivation was carried out as described previously by Efthimiadou et al 1 .…”

Endophytic Paenibacillus polymyxa LMG27872 inhibits Meloidogyne incognita parasitism, promoting tomato growth through a dose-dependent effect

“…In addition to the observed dose effect of P. polymyxa on tomato susceptibility to M. incognita , a dose-dependent effect of the bacterium on tomato growth was also observed. Increased growth linked to the use of the endophytic bacterium has been observed in tomato ( Katsenios et al, 2021 ), barley, cucumber, pepper, sesame, and Arabidopsis thaliana ( Jeong et al, 2019 ). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known for production and degradation of the phytohormone auxin, leading to enhanced root growth ( Leveau and Lindow, 2005 ; Spaepen et al, 2014 ; Finkel et al, 2020 ).…”