Growth and nutrition of cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>) under water deficit as influenced by microbial inoculation via seed coating

Rocha, Inês; Ma, Ying; Vosátka, Miroslav; Freitas, Helena; Oliveira, Rui S.

doi:10.1111/jac.12335

Cited by 34 publications

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References 64 publications

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“…Previous greenhouse studies reported benefits from AM fungi and PGPR, either inoculated by the conventional method (direct application in the soil) or through seed coating in cowpea performance. Nevertheless, there is still lack of information on the effect of AM fungi and PGPR, which can represent a significant barrier to up‐scale microbial applications .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Broadcasting of inocula of AM fungi and PGPR in open agricultural fields can be costly . Seed coating is considered a viable tool for precise and broad delivery of AM fungi and PGPR to different agricultural crops, and it has been explored in cowpeas under greenhouse conditions . This inoculation method allows the application of low amounts of inocula in combination with other exogenous ingredients onto the seed surface, resulting in close plant‐microbe contact at the early plant development stage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using microbial seed coating for improving cowpea productivity under a low‐input agricultural system

et al. 2019

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BACKGROUND: Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have the ability to enhance the growth, fitness, and quality of various agricultural crops, including cowpea. However, field trials confirming the benefits of microbes in large-scale applications using economically viable and efficient inoculation methods are still scarce. Microbial seed coating has a great potential for large-scale agriculture through the application of reduced amounts of PGPR and AM fungi inocula. Thus, in this study, the impact of seed coating with PGPR, Pseudomonas libanensis TR1 and AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis (single or multiple isolates) on grain yield and nutrient content of cowpea under low-input field conditions was evaluated. RESULTS: Seed coating with P. libanensis + multiple isolates of R. irregularis (coatPMR) resulted in significant increases in shoot dry weight (76%), and in the number of pods and seeds per plant (52% and 56%, respectively) and grain yield (56%), when compared with non-inoculated control plants. However, seed coating with P. libanensis + R. irregularis single-isolate (coatPR) did not influence cowpea grain yield. Grain lipid content was significantly higher (25%) in coatPMR plants in comparison with control. Higher soil organic matter and lower pH were observed in the coatPMR treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that cowpea field productivity can be improved by seed coating with PGPR and multiple AM fungal isolates under low-input agricultural systems. Mycorrhizal root colonizationRoots were separated from shoots, washed, cut into 1 cm pieces, and stained in a trypan blue solution in accordance with a modified Phillips and Hayman 33 protocol. 34 The grid-line intersect method 35 Figure 2. Harvesting productivity parameters of cowpea in different inoculation treatments: control, coated with Pseudomonas libanensis + Rhizophagus irregularis (coatPR) or coated with P. libanensis + a mixture of different R. irregularis isolates (coatPMR). Radial graphs represent results relative to the higher value (indicated as 100%) for each productivity parameter.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using microbial seed coating for improving cowpea productivity under a low‐input agricultural system

et al. 2019

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“…Depending on the type of coating, specific equipment is considered [for some examples, see Pedrini et al (2017)]. The rotating pan is the most common device used for seed coating (e.g., pelleting, encrusting, dressing, and film coating) (Hartley et al, 2013; Oliveira et al, 2016a; Rouphael et al, 2017; Accinelli et al, 2018a; Rocha et al, 2019a; Rocha et al, 2019b). It usually consists of an inclined round pan rotating in slow motion, where materials are gradually added, followed by size sorting (sieving and screening) and then drying (Halmer, 2000; Pedrini et al, 2017).…”

Section: Seed Coating With Beneficial Microbesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seed coating is a technique in which an active ingredient (e.g., microbial inoculant) is applied to the surface of the seed with the help of a binder and in some cases a filler that can act as a carrier. Seed coating has been proposed as a promising tool for inoculation of different crop seeds, since it is able to use minor amounts of inocula in a precise application (Jetiyanon et al, 2008; Oliveira et al, 2016a; Rouphael et al, 2017; Accinelli et al, 2018a; Accinelli et al, 2018b; Rocha et al, 2019a; Rocha et al, 2019b). The main types of seed coatings include seed dressing, film coating, and pelleting, which can be chosen differently, according to the purpose of application and the type of seed or selected microbes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed Coating: A Tool for Delivering Beneficial Microbes to Agricultural Crops

et al. 2019

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Plant beneficial microbes (PBMs), such as plant growth-promoting bacteria, rhizobia, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and Trichoderma, can reduce the use of agrochemicals and increase plant yield, nutrition, and tolerance to biotic–abiotic stresses. Yet, large-scale applications of PBM have been hampered by the high amounts of inoculum per plant or per cultivation area needed for successful colonization and consequently the economic feasibility. Seed coating, a process that consists in covering seeds with low amounts of exogenous materials, is gaining attention as an efficient delivery system for PBM. Microbial seed coating comprises the use of a binder, in some cases a filler, mixed with inocula, and can be done using simple mixing equipment (e.g., cement mixer) or more specialized/sophisticated apparatus (e.g., fluidized bed). Binders/fillers can be used to extend microbial survival. The most reported types of seed coating are seed dressing, film coating, and pelleting. Tested in more than 50 plant species with seeds of different dimensions, forms, textures, and germination types (e.g., cereals, vegetables, fruits, pulses, and other legumes), seed coating has been studied using various species of plant growth-promoting bacteria, rhizobia, Trichoderma, and to a lesser extent mycorrhizal fungi. Most of the studies regarding PBM applied via seed coating are aimed at promoting crop growth, yield, and crop protection against pathogens. Studies have shown that coating seeds with PBM can assist crops in improving seedling establishment and germination or achieving high yields and food quality, under reduced chemical fertilization. The right combination of biological control agents applied via seed coating can be a powerful tool against a wide number of diseases and pathogens. Less frequently, studies report seed coating being used for adaptation and protection of crops under abiotic stresses. Notwithstanding the promising results, there are still challenges mainly related with the scaling up from the laboratory to the field and proper formulation, including efficient microbial combinations and coating materials that can result in extended shelf-life of both seeds and coated PBM. These limitations need to be addressed and overcome in order to allow a wider use of seed coating as a cost-effective delivery method for PBM in sustainable agricultural systems.

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“…Seed coating is a process consisting on the application of exogenous materials (including inoculants) onto the seed surface and it has been considered a precise tool with the potential to deliver AM fungi to several agricultural crops, such as wheat, maize, artichoke and cowpea [23][24][25][26][27]. Seed coating ensures the contact of AM fungal propagules with emerging roots assuring colonization at the early plant development stage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed Coating with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Improved Field Production of Chickpea

Rocha

Isabel

et al. 2019

Agronomy

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Although arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to promote growth and yield of agricultural crops, inoculation methods for effective scaling up from greenhouse to the field are still underexplored. The application of single or mixed beneficial AM fungal isolates is hindered by the lack of experimental reproducibility of findings at different scales and the cost-effectivity of inoculation methods. Seed coating has been considered a feasible delivery system of AM fungal inocula for agricultural crops. In this study, the impact of single and multiple AM fungal isolates applied via seed coating on chickpea productivity was evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions. Overall, plants inoculated with multiple AM fungal isolates had better performance than those inoculated with single AM isolate under greenhouse and field conditions. While plants in greenhouse displayed higher shoot dry weight (14%) and seed individual weight (21%), in field, inoculation with multiple AM isolates increased pod (160%), and seed (148%) numbers, and grain yield (140%). Under field conditions, mycorrhizal root colonization was significantly higher in chickpea plants inoculated with multiple AM fungal isolates compared to other treatments. These findings highlight the potential of field-inoculation with multiple AM fungal isolates via seed coating as a sustainable agricultural practice for chickpea production.

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Growth and nutrition of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) under water deficit as influenced by microbial inoculation via seed coating

Cited by 34 publications

References 64 publications

Using microbial seed coating for improving cowpea productivity under a low‐input agricultural system

Using microbial seed coating for improving cowpea productivity under a low‐input agricultural system

Seed Coating: A Tool for Delivering Beneficial Microbes to Agricultural Crops

Seed Coating with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Improved Field Production of Chickpea

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