Beneficial rhizobacteria encapsulated in nanofibers for potential application as soybean inoculants

DE GREGORIO P, MICHAVILA G, LEMES SANTOS F, BONILHA F, LAMI M, CARAM DI SANTO M, POMARES M, VINCENT P

Cordoba

Congreso; LII Reunión Anual Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2016

saib

Soybean seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an ideal tool to supply high densities of viable beneficial microorganisms to the soil. The difficulty of maintaining the viability of the microorganisms during seed treatment and storage is a problem. The aims were to evaluate the stability of two potential PGPR, Pantoea agglomerans and Burkholderia caribensis, during encapsulation in nanofibers under different conditions, and to determine the impact of seed coating with nanofiber-encapsulated rhizobacteria on bacterial survival during seed storage, on germination and on plant growth parameters. Bacterial nanoencapsulation and subsequently seed coating was carried out by electrospinning. This technique successfully encapsulated P. agglomerans and B. caribensis because it did not affect their viabilities or beneficial properties. Seed coating with nanofiber-encapsulated rhizobacteria improved P. agglomerans and B. caribensis survival on seeds stored for 20 days and increased their colonization on plant root. Seed coating with P. agglomerans increased germination and length and dry weight of root while seed coating with B. caribensis increased leaf number and dry weight of shoot. The technique applied to coat seeds with nanofiber-encapsulated PGPR could be considered a promising eco-friendly approach to improve soybean production using a microbial inoculant