Application of plant growth promoting bacteria enhances the growth of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil) in greenhouse

ONETTO, AL; CORTESE, IJ; GORTARI, F; CASTRILLO, ML; SCHEGG, E; ZAPATA, PD; LACZESKI, ME

Rhizosphere

ELSEVIER

Año: 2022 vol. 24 p. 1 - 7

Yerba mate is an economically and culturally important South American plant. The objective of the present research was to assess the growth promotion capacity of endophytic spore-forming bacteria on Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil in greenhouse. Seedlings were inoculated with Bacillus atitudinis (strains 19RS3 and T5S-T4), Kosakonia radicincitans YD4, and their combinations. Azospirillum brasiliense sp.245 and non-inoculated seedlings were used as controls. Inoculated seedlings were 43.28% higher and had a root collar diameter 12.42% thicker, 28.14%more leaves, and 67.84% more leaf area. Total dry weights were up to 27.66% higher, leaves dry weight 89.80% higher, and shoot dry weight 48.28% higher. They presented 90.77% higher gs, 51.73% higher total chlorophyll content, 39.97% higher chlorophyll a, and 80.87% higher chlorophyll b. Bacillus strains alone or in combinations showed the best results, making them excellent candidates for developing an organic eco-friendly biofertilizing product for yerba mate seedlings in the greenhouse.