COMBINATION OF EXTRACTS FROM ALGAE Macrocystis pyrifera WITH BACTERIA PGPR STIMULATE GERMINATION OF HORTICULTURAL SPECIES

CORTES JULIETA; IPARRAGUIRRE JULIA; MASCIARELLI OSCAR; REGINATO, MARIANA; LUNA, MARÍA VIRGINIA

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXIV Reunón Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo. Mendoza- Argentina; 2016

Sociedas Argentina de biología

The evolution of horticulture in recent years has recorded a reduction in acreage but an increase in intensive production based on the incorporation of technological innovations, mainly associated with biofertilization. The aim of this study was to analyze the germination response of tomato, lettuce, radish and chicory to the application of extracts from the alga Macrocystis Pyrifera individually, or together with Azospirillum brasilense inoculation, to assess whether both types of promoters exert a synergistic action on the germination energy (GE) and the germination power (GP). Seeds from the four horticultural species were inoculated and placed on germination trays (50 seeds per tray and 4 trays per treatment) in growth chamber (Conviron PR48) with controlled conditions : 80% relative humidity, 16 h light / 8 h dark photoperiod and of 24 and 20° C respectively, in triplicate. GE and GP were determined according to ISTA rules. Germination kinetics was also determined. The results showed a positive effect of the combined use of both biofertilizers on the germination parameters in some species, mainly on lettuce, in which co-inoculation produced significant differences. In other species germination was mainly stimulated by the algal extract alone. These results suggest that the use of algal extract individually or in combination with PGPR may be used as bio-fertilizers in horticultural species but taking into account that each species responds to each fertilizer in a particular way. The use of biofertilizers is of great importance in horticulture, to replace chemical agents for a more sustainable food production.