Abstract

NOH MEDINA, José et al. Bacterial isolates with biofertilizer potential for tomato plantlets. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2014, vol.32, n.4, pp.273-281. ISSN 2395-8030.

In this work rhizobacteria were isolated in diverse culture mediums and seeded in selective media to study their capacity to solubilize phosphate and produce indole acetic acid (IAA) to test their use in promoting tomato plantlet growth. Eighty three bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizoplane of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.), maize (Zea mays) and squash (Cucurbita pepo). Fifteen of these isolates synthesized IAA at concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 12.51 µg L-1 and 33 strains solubilized inorganic phosphate in vitro. The isolates KCH3 and TSACH2, which solubilized phosphates in vitro, increased, shoot biomass of tomato plantlets (42 and 32% respectively); these plantlets were more vigorous than those that were not inoculated. Both rhizobacteria showed potential for use as biofertilizers in the production of tomato plantlets.

Keywords : rhizobacteria; growth regulators; plant growth promotion.