IMPROVEMENT OF RESPONSE TO LOW WATER AVAILABILITY IN MAIZE PLANTS INOCULATED WITH SELECTED RHIZOSPHERIC MICROBIAL CONSORTIA UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION REGIMES

Authors

  • Eligio Malusà Agricultural Research Council, Research Centre for the Soil-Plant System, Turin
  • Giacomo Sala Agricultural Research Council, Research Centre for the Soil-Plant System, Turin
  • Walter Chitarra Department of Arboriculture and Pomology, University of Turin, Grugliasco
  • Laura Bardi Agricultural Research Council, Research Centre for the Soil-Plant System, Turin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/4209

Keywords:

soil, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, mycorrhiza, maize, drought

Abstract

Low water availability for agriculture is a rising problem in temperate countries. The effect of two different rhizospheric microbial consortia on the tolerance to water deficiency of maize was evaluated under controlled watering regimes. One consortium was a mixture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizospheric bacteria isolated under osmotic stress selective pressure; the other consortium was a commercial product. A higher tolerance of plants to water deficiency was observed when roots were inoculated with microbial consortia. Plant gas exchange parameters were positively affected by inoculation, and a improvements of the leaves mineral nutrients content and of the biomass yield were also recorded. The positive effect should be ascribed to an increased roots development more than to an increased uptake from extraradical mycorrhizal hyphae. The use of microbial inoculants appears to be a suitable practice to improve the crop performances under low water availability.

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Published

2013-12-30

How to Cite

Malusà, E., Sala, G., Chitarra, W., & Bardi, L. (2013). IMPROVEMENT OF RESPONSE TO LOW WATER AVAILABILITY IN MAIZE PLANTS INOCULATED WITH SELECTED RHIZOSPHERIC MICROBIAL CONSORTIA UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION REGIMES. EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, 12(12), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/4209

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