Biological on-seed treatments effects on wheat productivity

DÍAZ-ZORITA, MARTÍN; BALIÑA, RAFAEL M; FERNÁNDEZ CANIGIA, MARÍA VIRGINIA; PERTICARI, ALEJANDRO

Mar del Plata, BA. Argentina

Congreso; 7th International Wheat Congress; 2005

The rizosphere is a biologically rich environment, specially when it is compared with the bulk soil, where a lot of micro organism with favourable plant growth promotion effects can be detected (Rovira, 1973). Several of these micro organisms have been isolated and reproduced allowing to the formulation of biological products to be applied under extensive production practices. Azospirillum sp., one of the most studied group of free living plant-associated bacteria, have been described to provide plant growth promotion through two major mechanism: (i) free nitrogen fixation and (ii) production of plant growth regulators and other molecular signals that provide changes on root architecture increasing the overall root growth and consequent effects on shoot growth and also the interaction with other soil microorganisms (Bashan, 1998; Dobbelaere et al. 2003). Our objective was to determine the contribution of the on-seed application of a liquid inoculant based on Azospirillum brasilense on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and grain yield under different environmental and soil fertility management conditions